04 September 2014 :

In Kenya, a Nyahururu court handed four young men a death penalty for robbery with violence.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege, the four - James Mwangi Wachira, Joseph Muthee Nyambura, Ian Waruru Muthoni and Paul Njoroge Wanjiru - had earlier pleaded not guilty to the sentence.
The court heard that on December 14, 2013 at Maina village in Laikipia County, the four attacked and robbed Henry Cheruiyot of his wallet containing an identity card, KES 3000 cash and Safaricom SIM card worth KES 20.
The complainant, Cheruiyot who was walking home with his son at around 10pm on that dreadful night, came across the four just outside their home. They attacked them, and during the scuffle, Cheruiyot’s son managed to escape and call for help from nearby neighbours.
When they arrived, three of the robbers had already escaped but Cheruiyot was still struggling with the third accused, Waruru. They took him to the Maina Administration Police Camp, where he helped identify the other suspects.
While handing over the 4:30pm judgment, Magistrate Ndege said he had considered the mitigation of the four, who told the court that they did not know the consequences of their actions. Two of the accused also said they had wives and children, and they were the bread winners of their families.
“There is no other judgment provided for by the Parliament and court of appeal for robbery with violence, other than this one,” Ndege said, before reading the judgment to them.
The four have fourteen days to appeal.