Republic v Lepakiyo (Criminal Appeal 49 of 2016) [2026] KEHC 3234 (KLR) (12 March 2026) (Ruling) Neutral citation: [2026] KEHC 3234 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT AT MERU CRIMINAL APPEAL 49 OF 2016 SM GITHINJI, J MARCH 12, 2026 BETWEEN REPUBLIC ............................................................................................ PROSECUTOR AND CHRISTOPHER JOHN LEPAKIYO .................................................. RESPONDENT RULING Court:1. The ofience of Murder carries on the higher side a death sentence. However, this is not a mandatory sentence as the Court is entitled to give any other sentence as the circumstances of the case may legally justify. I have considered the sentiments of the Prosecution Counsel. The ofience was committed in a brutal manner to a woman who had nursed the accused while a child and was even taking care of him as an adult. The same was unjustified. Cases of murder are prevalent in this region. The sentence should reflect the gravity of the ofience. There is little if any mitigating circumstances in this matter. Probably only that he has been in remand since 2016, a period of about 10 years. 2. Having considered all the foregoing factors, I do sentence him to serve 40 years imprisonment. 3. Sentence to count from 18/8/2016. DATED AND DELIVERED AT MERU THIS 12TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026. S. M. GITHINJI JUDGE https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/3234/eng@2026-03-12 1
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