Convicted Miss Lang’ata women prison to know fate today
A 24-year-old woman convicted of stabbing her boyfriend multiple times leading to his death will this afternoon know her fate.
Ms Ruth Wanjiku Kamande was found guilty of killing 25-year-old Farid Mohammed in September 2015, by Justice Jessie Lesiit.
In mitigation last week, Ms Kamande told the court that she has reformed since she was remanded two years and nine months ago. She said she regrets the incident.
Through her lawyer Joyner Okonjo, Ms Kamande said she was now a devout Muslim and has been attending a course in theology for the past one year.
She added that she has been engaged in various activities at the Lang’ata Women Prison, which led to her being crowned Miss Lang’ata beauty in 2016.
DISCIPLINE AND COMMITMENT
The lawyer said one does not get the title because of looks alone but also in consideration is cooperation with the authorities, discipline and commitment to reform.
Ms Okonjo added that Ms Kamande had been admitted to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) for a course in Information technology, but her education was cut short.
While convicting her, Justice Lesiit dismissed claims that she acted in self defence. According to the Judge, the stab wounds were not consistent with her allegations that her former boyfriend had pinned her down as they fought. The Judge said the wounds were also inflicted at intervals and not by a person in a lying position.
Ms Kamande, who was aged 21 then, stabbed Mr Mohammed 25 times using a kitchen knife. Neighbours responded to his distress call but could not help because the door was locked.
The night before the incident, the court heard that she found his old love letters and questioned Mr Mohammed why he was still keeping them.
IGNORED HER
He allegedly ignored her and went to sleep, only for her to start the conversation the following morning.
While in remand, Ms Okonjo said the former beauty queen has acquired five certificates including one from the Embassy of Netherlands.
Besides, Ms Kamande has also taken part in modelling, dancing, poetry and script writing and has been nominated to perform in a number of state functions.
She said that her only brother has since passed on and her single mother has no one else to look up to.
The state, however, through Evelyn Wanunga said Ms Kamande was not remorseful. The state Counsel said she killed an orphan and the manner in which she did the act was “unimaginable”.
Ms Wanunga said death penalty was still valid and the court should hand it to her to act as a lesson to others.