Why Willie Kimani's Father Is Unsatisfied With Court Ruling on Late Son's Murder

Part of the verdict by the court on the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani and two others has not sat well with the former's father. 

Appellate judge Jessie Lessit on Friday, February 3, handed a death sentence to Fredrick Ole Leliman, an interdicted police officer accused of masterminding the murder.

The masterminds co-accused were handed a couple of years of jail; Stephen Cheburet was handed 30 years, Silvya Wanjiku 24 years and Peter Ngugi 20 years.

Speaking after the verdict, Kimani's father Paul Kinuthia argued the ruling on the trio was lenient.

The 84-year-old said their deserved to have a longer sentences than what was handed to them.

"They are pleading for fewer years so that they can take care of their children. Even the late Kimani left children behind. Who will take care of them? If I'm saying it wrongly then I should be forgiven'" he said.

In her ruling, Justice Lessit determined that a police officer is being paid to safeguard the life of citizens and not to take it.

Leliman was handed a death sentence for each count he faced. The murder of Kimani, the court established, aimed at interfering with the process of justice.

Before the murder of Lawyer Kimani and his counterparts, the Judge established that they went through fear torture and excruciating pain as they waited for their turn to be killed.

The lawyer was killed in 2015 while in the company of his client and taxi driver.