One Man Found Guilty of Manslaughter While Two Others Plead Not Guilty to Murder
By Festus Ronoh || Kass Digital
Bomet, Kenya – The Bomet High Court has convicted Robert Kiplangat Kirui from Chepkolon Village, Merigi in Bomet East Sub-County, of manslaughter in connection with the death of Richard Cheruiyot Ngeno on September 30, 2018.
Delivering the judgment in Criminal Case No. 25 of 2025, Justice Ngarngar found that although Mr. Kirui caused the death of Mr. Ngeno, there was no evidence of criminal intent (mens rea) to harm or kill the deceased.
In this judgment, I have considered two things — the criminal intention (mens rea) and the act itself,” said Justice Ngarngar. “From the evidence presented, the court finds that the accused had no criminal intent against the deceased, and on the side of the act, the court found insufficient evidence to prove otherwise.
In his defense, Mr. Kirui told the court that on the material day, while returning home after watching a football match, the deceased allegedly attacked him with a stick, prompting him to act in self-defense. He maintained that he had no intention to harm Mr. Ngeno.
The court set November 15, 2025, as the date for sentencing.
In separate cases, two other murder suspects were arraigned before the Bomet High Court for plea-taking.
Brian Kiprono was charged with murdering Ken Bosco outside Diamond Club in Sotik on June 22, 2025. He pleaded not guilty.
Geoffrey Kipkirui Terer also appeared before Justice Ngarngar, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of Hillary Kipngetich in Kipsingei, Ndanai-Sotik Sub-County, on October 15, 2025.
Both cases will be mentioned on November 18, 2025, for further directions.
The county has recently witnessed a rise in murder cases. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, November 4, the same court sentenced 55-year-old Robert Tonui to 40 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Emmy Chepkoech Tonui, five years ago in Konoin, Bomet County.
