Kenyan leader commutes death penalty for 2,700 convicts

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

The death sentences of more than 2,700 death row inmates were commuted by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, officials said.

In a statement, Kenyatta’s office said the death penalty imposed on 2,655 male convicts and 92 women would be reduced to life imprisonment. A life sentence under the Kenyan justice system expires at the end of a convict’s natural life.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed commutation documents commuting all death sentences into life jail terms,” the statement said.

Kenyatta also pardoned 102 long-serving convicts deemed to be rehabilitated under a “power of mercy” provision in the constitution.

The development came the week after Kenyatta freed 7,000 inmates during the Heroes Day celebrations to create jail space for corruption convicts.

President Mwai Kibaki was the last Kenyan leader to sign a mass commutation of death sentences in 2009. The last execution is believed to have been conducted in 1987.

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

The death sentences of more than 2,700 death row inmates were commuted by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, officials said.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed commutation documents commuting all death sentences into life jail terms,” the statement said.

Kenyatta also pardoned 102 long-serving convicts deemed to be rehabilitated under a “power of mercy” provision in the constitution.

The development came the week after Kenyatta freed 7,000 inmates during the Heroes Day celebrations to create jail space for corruption convicts.

President Mwai Kibaki was the last Kenyan leader to sign a mass commutation of death sentences in 2009. The last execution is believed to have been conducted in 1987.