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Kibaki Commutes Death Sentences |
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Written by Updates
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Monday, 03 August 2009 |
President Kibaki has commuted all death sentences to life. This follows an announcement earlier in the year from the Vice President's, Kalonzo Musyoka, that the government would be seeking to repeal the death penalty. It is unclear whether the normally populist parliament would back such a move or that the Kenyan public support it.
There are about four thousand men and women on death row in Kenyan prisons; and the last death penalty was carried out 22 years ago. However, Kibaki's announcement does not abolish the death penalty: a Kenyan court could still sentence someone to the death chambers. Several weeks ago, two young men, Robert Kemboi and Kirkland Langat were sentenced to hang for killing two police officers during the post election violence in 2008.
The Nation reports:
President Kibaki said the law does not permit prisoners on death row to be gainfully or productively utilised by the prison authorities thus leading to idleness and subsequent negative impact on prison discipline as recently witnessed in some facilities.The decision further took into consideration that extended stay on death row causes undue mental anguish and suffering, psychological trauma, anxiety while it may as well constitute inhuman treatment.
What is your stand on the death penalty and the government's move toward prison reform?
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Last Updated ( Monday, 03 August 2009 )
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This is all to be paid for by the taxpayer.
Can we be surprised then if levels of violent crime continue to soar?