Explained: Death Penalty in Kenya
Following years within the legal system, Joseph Irungu, also known as Jowie, received a death sentence on Wednesday, effectively meaning he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court of Kenya ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in December 2017.
This implies that Kenya refrains from carrying out the death penalty for any convicted individual.
An individual condemned to death is anticipated to undergo lifelong incarceration with minimal possibilities for release, in contrast to other inmates who may experience sentence reductions.
In Kenya, individuals serving sentences for various forms of imprisonment may see their terms halved on occasion if they demonstrate good conduct and receive a pardon.
Furthermore, individuals sentenced to life imprisonment are prohibited from participating in prison employment or partaking in various activities, including educational programs, available to other inmates.
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Moreover, inmates sentenced to the death penalty are segregated from the general prison population and accommodated in distinct quarters.
In Kenya, offenses that can lead to the death row punishment include: treason, taking an oath to commit an offense that would be punished by the death penalty (even if that offense is not committed), murder, certain sorts of robbery, or even attempted robbery, and (for members of the military) aiding the enemy.
Nevertheless, the debate over the death penalty persists, driven by the principle that individuals should not have the authority to end another person’s life.
Furthermore, the expenses associated with death row are seen as a financial burden for governments. Studies indicate that in Kenya, the cost of sustaining a prisoner per day amounts to approximately Ksh240.
Moreover, the penalty has been criticized for adding to the overcrowding in Kenyan prisons due to the high number of individuals serving sentences.
Since 1987, Kenya has refrained from carrying out any executions of individuals on death row, with the most recent instances involving individuals charged with treason during the 1982 attempted coup.
Explained: Death Penalty in Kenya