Millie Odhiambo reveals the important change that will happen after Ruth Kamande’s death sentence
This girl is so beautiful… she’s so young… she has lost her entire life; that is enough punishment
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Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Ms. Odhiambo stated that she does not agree with the sentence describing it as inhumane and degrading.
The lawmaker said that as the Chairperson of the Parliamentarians for Global Action in Kenya, they are now pushing to see the abolition of the death sentence.
"We believe in the rule of law and human rights. And one of the things we’re working on this term is the abolition of the death penalty and we’re going to bring amendments to remove the death penalty in our books," she said.
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She added: "When we were discussing it at Bomas, I was one amongst very few who were calling for the abolition of the death penalty."
Odhiambo noted that Kamande’s sentence ought to be commuted to a life sentence adding that this would be punishment enough. She went on describe her crime as a crime of passion noting that Kamande only acted in the heat of the moment.
"This girl is so beautiful… she’s so young… she has lost her entire life; that is enough punishment, really," she said.
Last week, Kamande was found guilty of killing her boyfriend Farid Mohammed by stabbing him 22 times.
High Court judge Jessie Lesiit ruled that Kamande's actions proved malice, therefore, warranting the death sentence prescribed for the capital offense of murder.
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The judge insisted that Kamande's case needed to serve as an example to young people who may be involved in bad relationships.
"I want the youth to know it is not cool to kill your boyfriends or girlfriends. Instead, it is cool to walk away and forget," Judge Lessit said in her ruling.
The Suba North MP advised youth to walk away whenever they find themselves in bad relationships.
"I would want to encourage young people; if you’re in a bad relationship… if someone is cheating on you, he’s not the only man on earth, walk away, other men will come; she’s still too young and beautiful, she would have found many more men," she said.
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In her defense, Kamande told the court that she killed Farid in the process of self-defense claiming that the deceased was trying to kill her after she discovered his HIV status as positive.
"Farid told me that he would rather kill me and himself than have his status exposed. l stabbed him severally using a kitchen knife, which fell on my chest from his hands after I overpowered him after putting my two thumbs in his eyes to save my life," she told the court.
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