A 24-year old man was on Tuesday handed a seven-year prison sentence for physically assaulting a police officer in Kakamega.

Tyson Kasesi reportedly committed the offence, which contravenes section 103(a) of the National Police Act, in May.

"The accused person, Tyson Kayesi, is reported to have assaulted a police officer in the month of May 2024 while on official duty causing him harm as per the P3 form produced in court," the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said in a statement.

Kasese had initially declined take plea on two different occasions before eventually pleading guilty, to all four charges leveled against him, before Kakamega Principal Magistrate J. J. Masiga.

The prosecution team led by Moraa Atandi subsequently requested the court to uphold the minimum sentence as prescribed by the law.

"In delivering the judgement, the Magistrate noted that the offence of assaulting police officers is becoming rampant nationwide and therefore a custodial sentence is the most suitable for purposes of deterrence to the community and for any person intending to commit that offence," said the ODPP.