A Moi University student accused of stabbing his alleged love rival in March last year has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Dickson Siengo stabbed Stephen Mututho eight times at the university’s Eldoret town campus during a fight over a woman identified as Faith Bwire.
The deceased, who was a fourth-year hotel and hospitality management student, had visited his girlfriend at her off-campus hostel at Pioneer Roma on the outskirts of Eldoret but found her in the company of Dickson Siengo.
“I was in my room with my friend Dickson when Steve came with his friend. When Steve saw me with him, an argument erupted between the two. I tried to separate them but in vain,” said Faith Bwire in a past interview.
Dickson, 20, is said to have rushed to the kitchen, where he picked up a knife and followed Steve and his friend, who had both left the house.
“It was only when I was on my way to the security office to report the incident that I stumbled upon Steve writhing in pain on the stairs and bleeding profusely. That is when I discovered that he had been stabbed,” Faith narrated.
Steve sustained multiple stab wounds in the stomach, kidney, and heart, and died as officials of the student council and the hostel management rushed him to the hospital.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa on Monday, Dickson was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 8 years in jail.
He had applied for a non-custodial sentence to be able to complete his education and reform but the court rejected the plea.
“The unfortunate part is that Mututho is gone. For you it’s possible that you will serve the sentence and resume your normal life,” said Obulutsa.
“You are taking a hospitality course that trains you to be hospitable to people who are not friendly and control anger.
“It’s unfortunate that Stephen is gone and that whatever sentence this court gives will not bring him back,” added Obulutsa.
The Magistrate also noted that Dickson had not tried to contact Mututho’s family.
