A family in Kisumu is mourning the death of their 23-year-old kin who was beaten to death following a disagreement over a wheelbarrow.
Edward Otieno Oyuru was allegedly assaulted by Ford Rakwach who is on the run and is currently being tracked down by police as stated by Kisumu East sub county officer commanding station (OCS) Edward Masivo.
“Otieno had gone to pick his wheelbarrow from the suspect’s home. The deceased used to work for Rakwach. He helped in construction of his house which resulted to him leaving his wheelbarrow at his house.”
He decided to pick the wheelbarrow from his home where Rakwach allegedly attacked him using crude weapons.
The deceased sustained injuries on his head which he succumbed to after he was rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
In Kenya, murder is a grave offense under the Penal Code Act, Chapter 63. The punishment for murder is severe, with the death penalty being the maximum sentence. However, since 1987, no executions have been carried out, and death sentences are often commuted to life imprisonment.
The Supreme Court of Kenya declared the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional in 2017, granting judges the discretion to impose alternative sentences based on the specific circumstances of each case. This judicial flexibility aims to ensure that the punishment fits the crime while considering the unique aspects of each situation.
The approach reflects Kenya’s commitment to justice and human rights, balancing the need for severe penalties for serious crimes with the consideration of individual case factors.
