Former Lang’ata Women Prison beauty queen, Ruth Kamande has been sentenced to death today, for killing her boyfriend, Farid Mohammed.
The 24-year-old was found guilty of stabbing her boyfriend 22 times in Buruburu, Nairobi in September 2015 after she discovered love letters from his ex-lovers.
High Court judge, Jessie Lesiit committed the 2016 Miss Lang’ata Prison beauty queen to death despite the penalty having been lifted by a superior court saying her court was free to exercise discretion further stating that the death penalty was still enshrined in statutes.
She also said Kamande showed no remorse for her actions in the course of the trial.
Kamande’s legal team had claimed that she had converted to Islam and deserved a chance to turn her life around. They told the court that she should be given a lenient jail sentence, considering she has “established a close relationship with God”
They further pleaded for leniency on the basis that she was the only child of a single mother.
The judge, however, insisted that Kamande’s case needed to serve as an example to young people who may be involved in unhealthy relationships.
“I want the youth to know that it is not cool to kill your boyfriends or girlfriends. Instead, it is cool to walk away and forget, ” Judge Lessit said.
Speaking to reporters following the sentencing, the victim’s aunt, Ema Wanjiku said the family was glad justice had finally been served.
Kenya does not implement the death sentence and Kamande will now serve a life sentence.