Police Constable Lilian Biwott has received a 35-year prison sentence for the murder of her husband, Victor Kipchumba, in Eldoret.
On Tuesday, Eldoret High Court Judge Justice Reuben Nyakundi announced the sentencing, emphasizing the officer’s shocking cruelty in the incident.
Biwott, armed with her service firearm, shot her spouse 12 times, a deliberate act that left no room for doubt about her intentions.
The judge firmly rejected any claims of self-defense, stating that no evidence supported such a narrative. There was no indication that the victim had provoked the attack.
Highlighting the severity of the crime, Justice Nyakundi condemned Biwott’s blatant misuse of her firearm.
He stressed that, as a police officer, she fully understood the laws governing firearm use and yet chose to disregard them.
The repercussions of her actions have therefore, devastated Kipchumba’s family, the judge noted. His elderly mother, already vulnerable, now struggles with depression and psychological trauma.
The loss has left his children orphaned, amplifying the tragedy even further.
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“Lilian, you had every opportunity to prevent this tragedy,” Justice Nyakundi remarked. “As a wife and a mother, you could have taken a different path, yet you chose one that inflicted irreparable harm on your family.”
Rising cases of GBV
The judge also pointed to a troubling rise in cases of gender-based violence and femicide across the country. He stressed the need for harsher punishments to deter such heinous acts.
“The premeditated nature of this crime was gruesome and deeply disturbing,” Nyakundi concluded, urging society to take a stronger stand against such violence.
The rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country paint a grim picture of a society in urgent need of intervention.
These acts of cruelty not only shatter lives but also disrupt families and communities, leaving lasting emotional and psychological scars.
It is therefore, evident that stricter enforcement of laws, harsher penalties, and widespread public awareness campaigns are essential to curb this menace.
Justice systems must send a strong message that such acts will not be tolerated, while society must collectively work to foster respect, equality, and peaceful conflict resolution in all relationships.
