Four men have been sentenced to 135 years behind bars for their involvement in the brutal lynching of four people accused of witchcraft in Banda Sub-location, Marani Sub-County, Kisii County four years ago.

Amos Nyakundi Ondiek, Chrispine Makwaro Ogeto, Hesbon Ogondi Gichana, and Evans Ogeto Okari committed the crime on October 17, 2021.

They were part of a mob that lynched the elderly women—Jemima Miranga, 60, Agnes Ototo, 57, Sigara Onkware, 62, and Sindege Mayaka—on allegations of practicing witchcraft.

In the ruling delivered on Wednesday, January 22, Kisii High Court Judge Waweru Kiarie sentenced Ondieki, Okari, and Gichana to 40 years in prison each.

However, Makworo, Ondieki’s son, was sentenced to 15 years after the court established that he was still a minor at the time of the incident.

“I sentence the second accused to serve 15 years’ imprisonment in each crime he committed. The sentences will run concurrently,”

Victims’ Families Support Judgement

The affected families and human rights organizations expressed their satisfaction with the judgment.

“I am pleased with today’s ruling. The affected families have been going through a lot,” Bosire Mayaka, the late Sindege Mayaka’s son, said.

Utu Organization Representative, Hellen Kiriama said the ruling should serve as a warning to those who get involved in mob justice.

“As human rights activists, we welcome the verdict; justice has been served. Let this serve as a warning to those who take the law into their own hands,” Kiriama said.

Convicts & their Families Oppose Ruling

However, the families of the convicts disagreed with the judgment stating that it was against their expectations.“I’m not pleased with the ruling. Out of more than 250 people they decided to jail these four,” Christine Ondieki, Amos Ondieki’s mother, said.

Further, the suspects said the ruling was unfair. One of them said he was not part of the mob that lynched the four women.

“Honestly speaking, I did not touch even one woman. However, the judgement has been made, and I have been jailed for 40 years,” one of the convicts said.

“This is a long time. Right now, I am 53 years. If I add 40, it is better for me to die even right now. The judgement is not fair.”

Another convict asked the government to intervene stating that they are not criminals.

He said the court was supposed to read a report from the families, but this did not happen.

“We have children, we are not criminals and some of us have jobs. We asked them to read a report that they received from home before the judgment, but this did not happen,” he said.

How the Kisii Incident Happened

The area Assistant Chief alerted authorities, leading to the apprehension of four suspects.

The initial report indicated that locals had lynched two people accused of practicing witchcraft.

Police arrived at the scene and discovered two additional victims; their bodies burned beyond recognition.

Detectives from DCI Marani have investigated the case for the past three years.