The victim was left nursing injuries from the ordeal.A Kisumu court has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of robbery with violence, bringing to a close a case that gripped the Manyatta community for months.
The ruling, delivered on October 2 by Winam Law Courts Principal Magistrate Dennis Ogal, found that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The convict, popularly known in the area as “Jonyo”, was accused of violently robbing a resident on May 11, 2024.
The prosecution, led by Raymond Nyongesa, told the court that the victim was attacked at around 7 am by three men armed with a crowbar.
The attackers struck him on the head before making away with two mobile phones and an unspecified amount of cash.
The victim was left nursing injuries from the ordeal. Medical reports produced in court showed that he sustained a wound consistent with blunt force trauma.
During the trial, the prosecution presented multiple witnesses, including neighbours, medical officers and investigating officers, whose testimonies placed the accused at the scene of the crime.
Neighbours who rushed to his aid testified that they recognised some of the attackers, with several pointing to Jonyo as one of the men involved.
The victim himself also identified Jonyo as one of his assailants, reinforcing the prosecution’s argument.
The court further heard that an identification parade organised by police confirmed the recognition, with witnesses once again picking out the accused.
In mitigation, Jonyo denied the charges and maintained that he had been arrested at a kiosk unrelated to the crime.
However, the magistrate ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, leaving no room to raise doubt about his involvement in the crime.
“The evidence presented before this court leaves no doubt that the accused was among those who assaulted and robbed the complainant. The testimonies were consistent, the medical evidence corroborated the injuries sustained, and the identification was clear,” the magistrate said while delivering judgment.
The prosecutor urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, arguing that the crime had not only harmed the victim but also spread fear across the Manyatta neighbourhood.
In sentencing, the court convicted Jonyo under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code and handed him a 20-year custodial sentence.
The ruling sends a strong message to violent robbers who not only inflict physical scars on their victims but also leave them emotionally traumatised from the experience in case they survive.
The conviction offers a sense of closure to Manyatta residents who have had to contend with a sense of insecurity that has troubled Kisumu estates in recent years.
