Nairobi —A Kibera court has sentenced a man to death for violently robbing two people of their mobile phones and cash in the Kawangware area of Nairobi.
Isaac Khanga, who has faced previous accusations of theft, was convicted on two counts of robbery with violence. The court found that on the night of 3 November 2024, he and others—who have not yet been caught—used threats and force to steal from two separate victims.
In the first attack, Khanga grabbed a Tecno phone worth Ksh. 24,000 and Ksh. 30,000 in cash. Hours later, he struck again, snatching another phone valued at Ksh. 15,000.
The prosecution, led by Counsel Ann Murage from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), told the court that Khanga acted with clear intent to harm. Witnesses testified that he brandished a weapon and did not hesitate to use threats. “We were able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused used violence to rob,” said Murage in court.
Although his accomplices remain unidentified, Principal Magistrate Christine Njagi said the law holds each participant in a violent robbery accountable. “The evidence clearly places Khanga at the scene. His actions meet the threshold of robbery with violence,” she ruled.
Under Kenyan law, robbery with violence is punishable by death—a sentence that remains constitutional, despite ongoing national debates. “No court has declared the death penalty unlawful in Kenya,” Njagi said, adding that the sentence must be applied as provided by the law.
Khanga received two death sentences—one for each robbery. The second sentence will remain suspended unless required.
He was formally charged on 15 November 2024, and the trial was completed within six months. Magistrate Njagi commended the swift handling of the case, saying it reflects “the judiciary’s dedication to timely justice.”
The sentencing has sparked fresh conversation around crime and punishment in urban Kenya. While some Nairobi residents believe the penalty is too harsh, others say it sends a clear message to would-be criminals.
As one resident near the crime scene told The Times, “Too many people get robbed in Kawangware. If this scares others from trying, maybe that’s good.”
Meanwhile, Khanga’s legal team is expected to appeal.
