The Mombasa High Court on Monday sentenced two police officers to a seven years imprisonment for killing a 14-year-old girl.
Kinango DCIO Veronica Gitahi and police constable Issa Mzee were found guilty of manslaughter over the death of Kwekwe Mwandaza in Kwale County.
Judge Martin Muya in his ruling said that the two officers were reckless with their fire arms in their discharge of duty saying officers should avoid misusing guns.
The court heard that Kwekwe was shot dead at her home in Kinango village on August 22, 2014 by police officers that were hunting down her uncle, a suspected criminal.
“There has been a rampant use of firearms among Kenya police. In this matter I find that the two accused should be used to send a message to other police officers,” said the judge.
Judge Muya sentenced the two officers to serve seven years each in jail.
On Wednesday, Judge Muya found the two police officers guilty of manslaughter for killing the 14-year-old girl.
The two accused persons during the hearing had maintained that the child was trying to attack them with a panga after storming the house and they acted in self-defense.
Judge Muya in his ruling noted that there was gross omission on part of the accused persons by failing to ascertain the occupants of the house before they raided.
The Judge further ruled that the officers were reckless for shooting in darkness without establishing who was in the house.
Judge Muya however said that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had intention of murdering the girl which reduced their charge to manslaughter.