Two people sentenced to life imprisonment for killing retired Justice Effie Awuor's farmhand

The High Court in Kisumu has sentenced two men to life imprisonment after they were found guilty of killing retired Justice Effie Awuor’s farmhand George Onyango Abala in Muhoroni in 2018. 

According to a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Thursday, Isaac Kiptoo Rono and Julius Kipyegon who were currently serving another 20-year jail term appeared before Kisumu resident Judge Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili.

The judge convicted the pair to life in prison after the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

“Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili convicted the two Isaac Kiptoo Rono alias ‘Malakwen’ and Julius Kipyegon after testimonies of 34 prosecution witnesses proved they committed the heinous act,” stated the ODPP.

The ODPP stated that Judge Aburili attributed her decision to the accused being serial offenders.

“In delivering her judgement, Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili noted that the accused persons are not first offenders as they were already serving a 20-year sentence for another matter of attempted murder, a case related to the one they have been convicted for," added the ODPP.

She also considered the circumstances under which the deceased met his demise, noting that he was unarmed when the two fatally attacked him.