A Kisumu man has been handed a 12-year prison sentence after admitting to manslaughter in connection with the death of his neighbour.

The High Court in Kisumu convicted the man following a plea agreement with the prosecution, which saw the original murder charge downgraded. The incident occurred on November 6, 2024, in Nyawita, Kisumu Central Subcounty.

Initially denying the murder charge, the accused later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter on June 15, 2026. Court records indicate that the two were involved in a confrontation, during which the accused stabbed the victim in the lower left abdomen with a kitchen knife. The victim managed to return home but later died at the hospital due to massive internal bleeding.

A post-mortem confirmed the stab wound as the cause of death.

Sentencing Considerations

  • The court acknowledged the accused as a first-time offender who took responsibility by accepting the plea deal.
  • However, the convict showed no remorse during a probation interview and neither he nor his family sought reconciliation with the victim's relatives.
  • Community members and local administration opposed a non-custodial sentence, influencing the court's decision.

Balancing these factors, the court ruled that a 12-year custodial sentence was appropriate and fair. The sentence is retroactive to November 18, 2024, when the accused was first remanded in custody, in line with Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The convict has 14 days to appeal the sentence.