A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to the brutal murder of both his younger brother and nephew in Kisumu County.

Arnold Ochieng Omollo was convicted by the High Court in Kisumu on two counts of murder, contrary to Sections 203 and 204 of the Penal Code.

The court heard that the killings occurred between November 25 and 26, 2024, in Kamango Village, Awach Sub-location, Nyakach Sub-county.

According to the prosecution, Omollo attacked the two minors, both under the age of ten, while they were asleep, using crude weapons. Postmortem reports revealed that the children succumbed to death due to severe head injuries caused by penetrating cuts to the brain.

Investigators recovered a metallic hoe and a wooden hoe handle at the scene, which were linked to the fatal injuries.

The prosecution counsel, Mercy Muena told the court that the victims, identified as Aaron Smith Omollo and Jayson Havi, were particularly vulnerable and incapable of defending themselves.

Muema emphasized that the accused had a duty of care toward the children but instead violated their fundamental right to life. The prosecution further noted that there was no evidence of provocation and that the accused showed no remorse following the killings.

In his judgment, Justice Joe M. Omido sentenced Omollo to 45 years’ imprisonment on each count. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 45 years in custody. The sentence takes immediate effect from December 18, 2024, when the accused first appeared in court.

According to the judge, the punishment highlights the gravity of the offence and underscores the need to protect vulnerable members of society, particularly children. He also added that the sentence also serves as a deterrent against similar crimes.

The court highlighted the strong evidence presented by the prosecution, including the murder weapons recovered from the scene, as key to securing the conviction.