Eldoret couple, son, jailed for killing sheep theft suspect

A couple and their son in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, have been jailed for 13 years each after they were found guilty of killing a relative who had allegedly stolen their sheep before stashing his body in a sack and dumping it at the roadside.

Jones Kosgei Tanui, his wife Betty Jemosop Kosgei and their son Taitus Kibet Kosgei, who were tried before Eldoret High Court Judge R. Nyakundi, had denied taking part in the beating of the man to death.

Instead, they shifted blame to a mob whom they claimed had attacked the man after he was found with stolen sheep.

They were accused of killing Richard Kimosop on June 20, 2021 in Marakwet West.

The court heard that on June 19, 2021 about 8pm, the family noticed that their sheep were missing and alerted some relatives, neighbours and boda boda riders.

A search group of 12 people found the 20 sheep in a pen in Kimosop's home. He asked the search party to spare his life.

Tanui instructed his son to escort the suspect to their home as the rest of took back the sheep.

When they arrived at Tanui's home, his wife Jemosop allegedly grabbed a piece of wood and hit Kimosop with it. A fight ensured and Kimosop sustained injuries to the head and lower limbs.

In the testimonies before the court, Kibet is said to have urged the neighbors to allow them to punish the suspect for stealing their sheep. It was of the injuries that he died.

After he died, father and son put his body in a sack and carried it to the road. The wife ran away from the scene after her husband cautioned her against telling anyone about the death. She, however, could not keep the secret and called relatives and told them about the death.

When the body was examined, there was blood in the mouth, hands, left leg, the wrist, index finger, bruises on the face, left cheek, multiple injuries to the back, bruises on both knees, feet, injuries to the intestines and to the skull. The pathologist formed the opinion that the cause of death was
multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.

In their defense, Tanui and his son said they took the suspect to their home with the intention of questioning him about his accomplices but angry villagers attacked him. They claimed that they intervened and later released him only for him to die later.

The court heard that, both families undertook cleansing rituals and compensation was paid.

Tanui gave the bereaved family Sh200,000 to offset burial expenses. He also offered to give eight cows to the family of the deceased as compensation and as a gesture of reconciliation.

When handing down the sentence, Justice Nyakundi ruled that the prosecution had discharged its burden of proof.

"The sanctity of human life must be upheld, and this court must issue a custodial sentence that reflects deterrence, retribution, and reformation, especially considering that the act involved three persons attacking a single victim," he said.

"Accordingly, I hereby sentence each of the accused persons, to thirteen year imprisonment. The sentence shall run from the date of arrest," Justice Nyakundi ruled.