[Moi University student Nickson Syengo Mutemi, 20, at the Eldoret Law Court when he was sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter yesterday.] (Standard)A University student has been found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison for killing his colleague.
Dickson Syengo Mutemi, a first year student at Moi University’s town campus, was found guilty of killing Stephen Wairimu Mututho, following an argument over a girlfriend.
Eldoret Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa ruled that as the accused stabbed Mututho eight times, he will serve a year for every stabbing.
Syengo killed Stephen Wairimu Mututho, a Fourth Year student, on March 21, 2016 at Pioneer Private Hostels in Eldoret town.
The court heard that the two fought over Faith Bwire, with both claiming she was their girlfriend.
According to Bwire, the accused was with her in her room when Mututho and his friend Dennis Migot came and found them in a compromising position.
“I was with the accused at 9pm in my room and at around 9.30pm Stephen and Dennis came into the room. Stephen was drunk but I am not sure if Dennis was drunk or sober. He (the deceased) abused us and Syengo accosted him and a fight ensued. We tried to separate the two in vain,” she said.
The accused is reported to have left the room after the fight and returned with a knife which he used to stab the deceased eight times in the chest and abdomen.
In mitigation, Syengo said he acted in self-defense after the deceased and another student abused and punched him on the face.
“I am keen to acquire education, mould my life and become independent to help my ailing single mother,” he said.
However, Magistrate Obulutsa did not hear any of that, slapping the accused with the said sentence.
“No matter the pleading about your future, Stephen’s future is no more... you will serve eight years in prison, one year for every stabbing,” ruled Obulutsa.