ELDORET, Kenya — Two former police officers have been sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of torturing a 31-year-old man to death five years ago for allegedly failing to wear a face mask. The ruling was delivered by an Eldoret High Court on Monday.
Presiding Judge Reuben Nyakundi stated that the convicted duo, Emmanuel Wafula, 38, and Godfrey Sirengo, 35, possessed the means and duty to safeguard the deceased’s life. Instead, the court heard that the former officers handcuffed Dennis Lusava to a police cell window before subjecting him to torture, which led to his death while in their custody.
The prosecution further revealed that the officers subsequently placed Lusava’s body in a gunny bag and disposed of it in River Nzoia, along the border of Bungoma and Kakamega counties.
Judge Nyakundi affirmed that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the two former police officers were responsible for Lusava’s murder.
The prosecution, led by Sidi Kirengo, presented 21 key witnesses throughout the trial who testified against the accused, including the victim’s parents, Safani Malongo and Agnes Ambale.
Additionally, 27 exhibits were presented during the five-year murder hearing, which were used as evidence against the two former officers.
Earlier in the proceedings, the convicts faced a significant setback when the Judge dismissed their plea for a non-custodial sentence.
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The case involved the killing of Lusava, a father of two children, aged 9 and 14 years respectively.
The deceased was reportedly arrested and then tortured to death in a police cell, all based on an accusation of failing to wear a face mask.
The former police officers had denied committing the criminal offense, which occurred on October 7, 2020, at Mbururu police post in Likuyani sub-county, Kakamega county.
While dismissing their defense, Judge Nyakundi observed that the officers, whose mandate included protecting civilian lives and property, had “absolutely no reason” to torture the suspect and end his life.
