Two guards were on Tuesday freed by a court after spending 17 years in prison for stealing money from their employer.

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Lenyesio Lekupe and Bernard Lecherono were working for a former prominent Nakuru businessman Said Abdalla Azubedi in 2002.

The two were found guilty by the Court of attacking and robbing Azubedi and were sentenced to death.

The court heard that they attacked their boss on the night of December 16, 2002 in Bondeni Estate, Nakuru County and stole Sh600 and other valuables.

The two, while armed with clubs and swords, reportedly attacked Azubedi when he returned home from work and they also attacked their fellow guard who tried to help Azubedi.

Lekupe and Lecherono filed an application in court against the death sentence ruling and Justice Joel Ngugi considered their application for re-sentencing.

Justice Ngugi substituted their death sentence to a prison sentence saying the applicants have learnt their lesson and have already been rehabilitated.

The judge while releasing the two said the 17 years in jail was sufficient punishment for their mistake.

Azubedi who died at the age of 79 on February 26 while receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi owned several plots in the posh Milimani estate and was a real estate tycoon but lived in a mud-walled house in Bondeni.