A Magistrate’s Court in Mandera has sentenced a police officer to 15 years in prison after he was convicted of grievous harm and assault arising from a land dispute.
The Court found that Abdi Hakim Saman used excessive force against the victims including a 52-year-old woman, inflicting serious injuries classified as grievous harm.
While making the judgement, the judge, Hon. Omondi Cornel Ochieng said that the court noted that the officer’s status and the targeting of the victims were aggravating factors that warranted a stiff custodial sentence. In the judgement delivered on February 20,2026, the judge said that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the officer assaulted the two complainants on May 11th 2024.
Witnesses had told the Court during hearing that the accused kicked the woman while she was on the ground during a fight outside the station and later assaulted a second complainant. Although the officer had in his defence said that he was never present at the scene during the assault, several witnesses disputed, and the Court noted that the officer had failed to produce duty records or credible proof placing him elsewhere.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority(IPOA) investigated the matter and sent the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution(ODPP). The officer was prosecuted and convicted on two counts contrary to Section 234 and 251 of the Penal Code.
The officer was thus sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for grievous harm and 1 year for assault. The sentences will run concurrently from February 20,2026.