Following the capital punishment meted out to Ruth Kamande for the cold-blooded homicide of her boyfriend in 2015, High Court Judge Jessie Lesiit has come under fire from some sections for the retrogressive ruling.
The Judge held that Kamande acted in malice and showed no remorse for the murder in the course of the trial, thereby deserving of a death sentence.
Human rights activists have since protested the sentencing and have been joined by vocal lawmaker Millie Odhiambo in calling for an end to the death penalty.
According to the Suba North MP, life in prison is enough punishment for Ruth Kamane.
“When we were discussing it at Bomas, I was one amongst very few who were calling for the abolition of the death penalty.
“I am the Chairperson of the Parliamentarians for Global Action in Kenya and we believe in the rule of law and human rights. And one of the things we’re working on this term is the abolition of the death penalty and we’re going to bring amendments to remove the death penalty in our books.”
Speaking during a TV interview, Millie added: “This girl is so beautiful… she’s so young… she has lost her entire life; that is enough punishment.”
The outspoken legislator further advised young people to walk away from toxic relationships.
“I would want to encourage young people; if you’re in a bad relationship… if someone is cheating on you, he’s not the only man on earth, walk away, other men will come; she’s still too young and beautiful, she would have found many more men,” remarked Millie.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International-Kenya last week issued a statement of Ruth Kamande’s death sentence terming it as “cruel and inhumane.”
“We are concerned that Kenya continues to use this cruel, inhumane and outdated mode of punishment. This sentence is a blow to Kenya’s progressive record in commuting death sentences to terms of imprisonment,” AIK Executive Director Irungu Houghton said.
Despite the lack of executions, death sentences are still passed in Kenya. No executions have been carried out in Kenya since 1987 when Hezekiah Ochuka and Pancras Oteyo Okumu were hanged for treason.
