NAIROBI, Kenya- A former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in Likoni has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of an unarmed 20-year-old man in a case that has intensified scrutiny over police accountability.
Lady Justice Wendy Kagendo Micheni delivered the sentence at the High Court of Kenya after finding Yunus Athman guilty of killing Mbaraka Maitha Omar in 2018 at Mwenza Village in Likoni, Mombasa County.
The prosecution, led by Ngiri Wangui, called more than 20 witnesses who placed the former chief inspector at the scene and disputed claims that the victim posed any threat.
The court heard that Athman shot the deceased while attempting to arrest him over allegations of goat theft.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐢 𝐎𝐂𝐒 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧.The High Court in Mombasa sentenced the former Likoni Officer Commanding Station to life imprisonment for the murder of a middle-aged man in a case that has
Evidence presented showed that the victim was unarmed and did not resist arrest. Witnesses testified that several shots were fired, killing him on the spot.
In her sentencing remarks, Justice Micheni said the court had considered mitigation, a pre-sentence report and a victim impact statement before imposing a custodial term for the remainder of the convict’s natural life.
The judge noted that as a police officer, Athman had a statutory duty to protect life but instead used unlawful force against a defenceless civilian.
Abuse of state authority, she said, strikes at the heart of justice and must attract a deterrent sentence.
Family members of the deceased told the court they continue to suffer psychological trauma, describing the killing as malicious and a betrayal of public trust.
The court directed the convict to file any appeal against both conviction and sentence within 14 days.
