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 9, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: REPRIEVE FOR MAN ON DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING 4-YEAR-OLD BOY
A man who had been sentenced to death for killing his neighbour's four-year-old boy by strangling and chopping off his limbs will now serve 30 years in jail, The Star reported on 7 April 2020.
APRIL 2, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: 23 DEATH ROW PRISONERS ESCAPE HANGMAN
Twenty three death row inmates at Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison in Kilifi County on 31 March 2020 evaded the hangman's noose.
APRIL 1, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: 180 CONVICTS FREED FROM SHIMO LA TEWA MAXIMUM PRISON
A judge in Mombasa has released 180 prisoners from Shimo La Tewa Maximum Prison to serve the remaining jail terms at home, The Standard reported on 25 March 2020.
- JANUARY 1, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTY
the mandatory death sentence is no longer lawful in Kenya
the mandatory death sentence is no longer lawful in Kenya
NOVEMBER 18, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING THREE WHILE IN DRUNKEN STUPOR
The High Court in Mombasa on 14 November 2019 sentenced to death a police officer who shot and killed three people while he was drunk 16 years ago.
OCTOBER 30, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: EX-DEATH ROW PRISONER CAMPAIGNS AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
A former death row prisoner has spoken out against capital punishment on the 17th World Day against the death penalty, saying it deprives convicts of contrition.
OCTOBER 25, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THEFT OF MOTORBIKE, MOBILE PHONE AND SH250
A man who robbed a boda boda rider of his motorbike, mobile phone and Sh250, was sentenced to death on 24 October 2019 by a court in Isiolo.
AUGUST 8, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING
Two people who robbed and consequently kidnapped a neuro surgeon with the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have been sentenced to death by an Iten court, KNA reported on 29 July 2019.
JULY 23, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING DIVORCED WOMAN WHO REJECTED HIM
A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to death for killing a woman who turned down his advances for a love relationship after separating from her husband, Nairobinews reported on 19 July 2019.
JULY 11, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: SEVEN MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER OF TWO FISHERMEN
A court has upheld a death sentence imposed on seven men who murdered two fishermen on Lake Victoria.
- MAY 28, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA: PRISON WARDER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR PUMPING LOVER WITH BULLETS
An ex-prison warder at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Patrick Daniel Lesadala, will face the death penalty for the murder of his girlfriend, Diana Karambu Nthiba.
MAY 16, 2019KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: KIRINYAGA HANDS DEATH SENTENCE TO BRAZEN KILLERS
A Kerugoya Court has handed a death sentence to two men who killed two people and maimed one in a robbery incident that ended up being kidnapping.