In a landmark ruling, the Eldoret High Court has sentenced four individuals to 25 years in prison each for their involvement in the gruesome killing of a 19-year-old Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate, Ahmad Mohammed Ismael.
The incident occurred on June 2, 2023, in the West Indies estate of Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Julieta Ayieta, Benjamin Njenga, Paul Osinde, and Gregory Mukhori were convicted of participating in a mob lynching that resulted in the death of the teenager, who had been falsely accused of stealing a mobile phone from a local college student.
The prosecution proved that the four suspects were part of a group that violently assaulted Ismael using crude weapons, stones, and other blunt objects. The attack inflicted severe head injuries that led to his death on the scene.
During the trial, the court was presented with critical evidence, including CCTV footage from nearby buildings, forensic reports, and multiple eyewitness testimonies.
The footage, which was played in court, showed the accused persons clearly assaulting the victim with extreme brutality. Eldoret High Court Judge Reuben Nyakundi ruled that the evidence presented left no room for doubt regarding the suspects’ culpability.
“The CCTV footage that was played in court exposed the accused persons who were caught on camera beating up the slain student using stones and other blunt objects, resulting in his gruesome death,” stated Judge Nyakundi.
The ruling has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with many Kenyans expressing both relief and outrage—relief that justice was served, and outrage that such a senseless act of violence could be carried out in broad daylight by members of the community.
Human rights activists and legal experts have welcomed the judgment as a strong message against mob justice, a persistent issue in Kenya.
Ismael, who was preparing to sit for his KCSE exams, has been remembered as a bright and promising student whose life was cut short by unproven allegations and uncontrolled rage.
His family, devastated by the loss, expressed gratitude to the court for delivering justice, even as they continue to mourn the irreplaceable loss of their son.
The sentencing serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of mob justice and the importance of due process in addressing alleged crimes.
