A Kibera court has sentenced a man to death after convicting him of two counts of robbery with violence, following incidents that occurred in Nairobi’s Kawangware area in November 2024.
Isaac Khanga was found guilty of robbing two individuals of mobile phones valued at Ksh39,000 and cash totaling Ksh30,000 during separate but closely timed attacks on the night of November 3, 2024. The incidents took place around 11:00 p.m. in the Madiaba area of Dagoretti Sub-county.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Khanga, alongside accomplices who are yet to be arrested, carried out the violent robberies, threatening to use force against his victims. In the first case, he stole a Tecno smartphone worth Ksh24,000 and Ksh30,000 in cash. Shortly thereafter, he robbed another individual of a mobile phone worth Ksh15,000.
Principal Magistrate Christine Njagi, while delivering the judgment, noted that the prosecution had provided compelling evidence showing that Khanga threatened to use actual violence immediately before the robberies were committed. The magistrate emphasized that robbery with violence is a capital offense under Kenyan law.
“The death penalty remains lawful in Kenya and has not been declared unconstitutional,” Njagi stated, underscoring the gravity of the offense and the court’s duty to uphold the law. Consequently, Khanga was handed two death sentences, one for each count. However, only one sentence will be executed, while the second will be held in abeyance, in line with sentencing procedures.
The ruling highlights the Kenyan judiciary’s continued reliance on the death penalty for serious crimes, particularly those involving violence and threats to life. Although Kenya has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1987, the death sentence remains on the statute books and is often imposed in cases involving robbery with violence or murder.
Khanga, who was formally charged on November 15, 2024, remains in custody pending further directions from the prison authorities. Efforts to apprehend his accomplices are ongoing.
