Kenya
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- republic
- CONSTITUTION
- the 1963 constitution was replaced by a new one on August 27, 2010
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- it is based on English, Islamic, and customary law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- National Assembly (although the new 2010 constitution introduced a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (94 members) and the National Assembly (290 members), in practice the system is unicameral as only the second chamber functions)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, High Court, and three subordinate courts
RELIGIONS
45% Protestant, 33% Catholic, 10% Muslim, 10% Indigenous beliefs, 2% Other
From the country
FEBRUARY 19, 2026KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MACHARIA SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DEFILING, KILLING 7-YEAR-OLD TAMARA KABURA
Nyeri High Court on February 19, 2026 sentenced Nicholas Julius Macharia to death after he pleaded guilty to the brutal defilement and murder of seven-year-old Tamara Blessing Kabura.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2025KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MURDER CONVICT GETS 22 YEARS AFTER APPEALING DEATH SENTENCE
The High Court in Eldoret has issued a major ruling reducing the sentence of a man who had spent more than a decade on death row.
JUNE 17, 2025KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: AFTER 18 YEARS IN JAIL, COURT APOLOGISES TO MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Lulu Adu was just 17 when he was sentenced to die in Kenya. Eighteen years later, a court finally acknowledged its mistake — and set him free, The Star reported on June 17, 2025.
JUNE 11, 2025KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: KIBERA COURT SENTENCES SERIAL PHONE THIEF TO DEATH
A Kenyan court has handed a death sentence to Isaac Khanga after finding him guilty on two counts of robbery with violence, KBC Digital reported on June 10, 2025.
- MARCH 30, 2025Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
STEPHEN MUNYAKHO SET TO RETURN HOME AFTER MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE CLEARED $1MILLION FINE IN SAUDI ARABIA
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) has confirmed the payment of Sh129 million to Saudi Arabian authorities for the release of Kenyan Stephen Munyakho, also known as Abdulkarim, SyndiGate Media reported on March 28, 2025.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2025KenyaDEATH PENALTY
ICJ KENYA WELCOMES PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW OF DEATH PENALTY AS CRUCIAL
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya has praised the formation of a Parliamentary Task Force to review the country’s death penalty laws, calling it a crucial step in justice reform, Capitalfm website reported on February 13, 2025.
JUNE 17, 2024KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR USING DRUGS TO OVERPOWER AND VIOLENTLY ROB VICTIMS
A man was sentenced to death on June 14, 2024 in Kenya after being found guilty of robbery with violence and using overpowering drugs to stupefy his victims.
- MARCH 23, 2024KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: JOSEPH 'JOWIE' IRUNGU SENTENCED TO DEATH IN MONICA KIMANI MURDER CASE
Joseph Irungu alias Jowie on March 13, 2024 was sentenced to death after he was found guilty of the 2018 murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani.
JULY 24, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: RUTO REDUCES SENTENCES FOR ALL DEATH ROW CONVICTS
President William Ruto on July 21, 2023 reduced the death sentence for all capital offenders to a life sentence.
- JULY 13, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: DEATH ROW SUSPECT SET FREE OVER GIRLFRIEND'S CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE
Kenya Court of Appeal on July 7, 2023 granted the appeal of a man who had been sentenced to death for armed robbery.
JULY 12, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR TWO MEN WHO VIOLENTLY ROBBED WOMAN
An Eldoret Court on July 5, 2023 sentenced to death two men for the offence of robbery with violence.
JUNE 14, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: JUDGES RULE ON APPEAL OF MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE
A court of Appeal in Kisumu on June 12, 2023 dismissed an appeal filed by a convict serving a death sentence for stealing Nokia 3110, among other valuables worth Ksh46,000.