Supreme Court outlaws death penalty.[Photo/jewishlearning.com]
International Commission of Jurist (ICJ) congratulated Justice David Maraga and other Supreme Court Judges for the ruling made on Thursday.
The apex court on Thursday ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional.
Section 204 of the penal code states that any person found guilty of murder, robbery with violence, treason and other capital offences shall be sentenced to death by hanging.
Justice Njoki Ndung'u, however said the section was out of synchronization and couldn’t stand as it was inconsistent with the constitution.
The ICJ Kenya Chairman, Kelvin Mogeni through twitter handle of the commission, hailed the Supreme Court move terming it as good work.
“The Supreme Court declares mandatory death penalty unconstitutional, thanks for the good work,” read the tweet.
The judges further directed the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecution and other agencies, to prepare a detailed professional review of cases regarding sentencing.
They ordered that the judgment to be placed before the National Assembly speaker for necessary amendments to the law.
The apex court made the landmark ruling on Thursday after a petition by two death row convicts; Francis Murwatetu and Wilson Thrombus.