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
APRIL 27, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: SENTENCE OF MAN CONVICTED OF ROLE IN BRITON’S MURDER IS QUASHED
A man found guilty of being part of a gang of pirates who murdered a British tourist 12 years ago has had his conviction quashed by Kenya’s high court.
FEBRUARY 7, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: FORMER POLICEMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
A Kenyan former policeman on 3 February 2023 was sentenced to death for the murder of a human rights lawyer, his client and a taxi driver.
- JANUARY 25, 2023KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: 43% OF PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING DURING TRIAL - REPORT
Fourty-three per cent of inmates on death row did not understand what was happening during their trial. This is according to a report launched on 24 January 2023 by the Death Penalty Project, in partnership with Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
NOVEMBER 14, 2022KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STEALING FROM A BODA BODA RIDER
Moses Kirimi, a man who posed as a passenger and stole from a Boda Boda Rider has been sentenced to death in Kenya, Nairobi Gossip Club reported on 3 November 2022.
- JUNE 20, 2022KenyaDEATH PENALTY
NEW RESEARCH EXAMINES KENYAN ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE DEATH PENALTY
A new study, commissioned by The Death Penalty Project, London, in partnership with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Nairobi, has revealed that...
- JUNE 18, 2022KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: GUARD RICHARD MUTAI SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER
A 34-year-old Kenyan night guard has been sentenced to death over the killing of another man following an altercation between them, MaraviPost reported on 14 June 2022.
FEBRUARY 22, 2022KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN CONVICTED TO DEATH FOR ROBBING CHINESE BOSS SH30,000
A Kibera court on 22 February 2022 convicted a man to death for attacking his Chinese boss at an apartment in Kilimani and violently stealing his cash and phone.
JANUARY 25, 2022KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN WHO VIOLENTLY STOLE PHONES, CASH SENTENCED TO DEATH
A man accused of using excessive force to steal mobile phones and some cash from two city businessmen has been sentenced to death, Nairobi News reported on 21 January 2022.
MAY 18, 2021KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN WHO KILLED A ‘THIEF’ WHO WASN’T A THIEF
A Court of Appeal on 13 May 2021 upheld a High Court’s judgement, which sentenced a middle-aged man to death for taking part in the killing of a man, who had been mistaken for a thief, the Standard reported on 18 May 2021.
APRIL 27, 2021KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: DEATH ROW CONVICT FREED, CO-ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH
A death row convict Dickson Amalemba Lisanza has been freed after seven years in jail, The Standard reported on 27 April 2021.
NOVEMBER 9, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: BOYFRIEND KILLER LOSES DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL
Former Miss Langata Women Prison beauty queen Ruth Kamande who was convicted of murder for stabbing her boyfriend twenty-two times at Buruburu estate in 2015 will remain behind bars after the Court of Appeal on 6 November 2020 upheld her death sentence.
JUNE 22, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: TWO COPS TO SERVE 10-YEAR JAIL TERM AFTER SUCCESSFUL APPEAL
The Court of Appeal on 19 June 2020 reduced the death sentence of two police officers convicted of murdering an Administration Police officer and two relatives of an MP.