Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-13 14:24:16
Joseph Irungu, also known as Jowie, has finally received his sentence after years of legal proceedings. On Wednesday, he was handed a death penalty, which effectively means he will spend the rest of his life in prison. However, it is important to note that in December 2017, the death penalty was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Kenya. This ruling signifies that Kenya does not carry out executions for those sentenced to the death penalty.
Individuals who are sentenced to death in Kenya are, in fact, serving a life imprisonment term with minimal possibility of release compared to other convicts who may have their sentences reduced. Other forms of imprisonment in Kenya may offer convicts the opportunity to have their sentences reduced, sometimes by as much as half, if they exhibit good behavior and are pardoned. However, those serving a life sentence are restricted from engaging in activities such as work or educational programs in prison, unlike other prisoners.
Death penalty convicts are isolated from the general prison population and housed in separate quarters. Offenses that can lead to a death row punishment in Kenya include treason, taking an oath to commit a punishable offense (even if the offense is not carried out), murder, specific types of robbery or attempted robbery, and aiding the enemy for military personnel.
The death penalty remains a controversial subject as many believe that no one has the right to take another person’s life. Additionally, the cost implications of maintaining death row inmates are significant, with research indicating that it costs approximately Ksh240 per day to care for a prisoner in Kenya. The penalty has also been criticized for contributing to overcrowding in Kenyan prisons due to the high number of convicts incarcerated.
Despite the existence of death row inmates in Kenyan prisons, the country has not executed any prisoner on death row since 1987. The last executions were of individuals accused of treason during the 1982 attempted coup. This underscores the complexities and ethical dilemmas surrounding the death penalty in Kenya.
In conclusion, the case of Joseph Irungu, or Jowie, highlights the implications and intricacies of the death penalty in Kenya. While the Supreme Court has deemed the death penalty unconstitutional, individuals sentenced to death still face a life behind bars with limited chances of release. The debate on the death penalty continues to be a contentious issue in Kenya and around the world, raising questions about justice, ethics, and the protection of human rights.
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