The High Court in Mombasa has sentenced former Likoni Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Yunus Athman to life imprisonment for the fatal shooting of an unarmed civilian, in a decision that underscores the judiciary’s stance on police accountability.
In a ruling delivered by Wendy Kagendo Micheni,the court found Athman guilty of murdering 20-year-old Mbaraka Maitha Omar in 2018 at Mwenza Village in Likoni.
The judgment followed a prosecution case led by Ngiri Wangui, who called more than 20 witnesses to testify.
According to the court, evidence placed the former chief inspector at the scene and contradicted claims that the victim posed any danger.
Witnesses testified that the deceased was unarmed and did not resist arrest at the time of the shooting.
The prosecution established that Athman shot Omar while attempting to arrest him over allegations of goat theft.
He fired multiple rounds, killing the young man instantly.In her sentencing remarks, Justice Micheni emphasized the responsibility entrusted to law enforcement officers.
She stated that the convict “had a statutory duty to protect life but instead used unlawful force against a defenceless civilian.
”The judge further noted that “abuse of state power strikes at the heart of justice and must attract a deterrent penalty,” adding that the court had considered mitigation, the pre-sentence report, and the victim impact statement before imposing a life sentence.
Family members of the deceased told the court they continue to suffer psychological trauma, describing the killing as malicious and a betrayal of public trust.
The court directed Athman to exercise his right to appeal within 14 days against both the conviction and sentence.
The case details were shared by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on its X account.
