ELDORET, Uasin Gishu July 30 – The High Court in Eldoret has handed down 35-year prison sentences to two former police officers found guilty of murdering a young man while in their custody.
Emmanuel Wafula Barasa and Godwine Wekesa Sirengo, both formerly serving as police constables, were convicted of the death of 21-year-old Dennis Lusava in October 2020.
He had died after being tortured at the Mbururu Police Post in Likuyani, Kakamega County, in October 2020.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi delivered the verdict on July 4, finding that the officers had acted with intent and malice in the killing.
The court was told that on October 7, 2020, the officers lured Lusava to the police post using a civilian, and once he arrived, they unlawfully detained and brutally assaulted him.
Witnesses reported that Lusava was handcuffed to a window in the police station and subsequently beaten for an extended period with kicks, fists, and electric cables.
Following the assault, the officers attempted to cover up their crime. They made false entries in the Occurrence Book (OB), suggesting that Lusava had been released. In reality, they disposed of his body by dumping it in the River Nzoia.
Four days later, on October 11, Lusava’s decomposing body was discovered. A post-mortem examination confirmed that he had sustained multiple internal injuries.
The death was caused by circulatory failure due to torture injuries.
The brutal killing of Lusava shocked the public and drew condemnation from human rights advocates, who decried the abuse of power by officers tasked with upholding the law.
The court heard that the murder was motivated by a desire to retaliate after a public altercation between the officers and Lusava, which the officers found embarrassing.
Justice Nyakundi, while delivering the sentence, emphasised that the two acted with “malice aforethought” and were united in a conspiracy to eliminate the victim.
He described the killing as a gross violation of human rights and a betrayal of the public trust placed in law enforcement.
He also found their defence in credibility and pointed out the deliberate steps they took to cover up their actions.
“This was not a case of accidental death or use of necessary force,” the judge stated while adding that: “The evidence clearly shows that the two officers planned and executed a violent act with the full knowledge of its consequences.”
The prosecution called 21 witnesses and submitted 27 exhibits during the trial, painting a comprehensive picture of the officers’ actions before, during, and after the crime.
The testimonies helped to establish that Lusava never left police custody alive and that the efforts to disguise his death were systematic and intentional.
The sentencing concluded a lengthy and emotionally charged trial, which many welcomed as a step toward justice and police accountability.
Families of victims of police brutality expressed hope that the verdict would act as a warning to other officers who abuse their power. They believe that justice, though delayed, can still be achieved through persistence and the rule of law.
