BY GEOFREY KASERA: A High Court sitting in Kisumu has sentenced Shem Akuku Otieno, alias Daddy, to death following his conviction for the brutal murder of four people, including his seven-year-old son, his wife, his uncle, and a neighbor.
The tragic killings occurred at Wagunga Village in Nyangoma Location, Muhoroni Sub-County, where Otieno attacked his 26-year-old wife, Emily Adhiambo Akuku, his 74-year-old uncle, Thomas Odula Nyameche, and an ailing 56-year-old neighbor, Mary Kuya Otieno, alongside his young son.
He also attempted to attack his sister, Monica Atieno, who managed to escape after Otieno tripped and fell while pursuing her.
Following the deadly spree, Otieno hid in a nearby sugarcane plantation before surrendering to the police out of fear of being lynched by outraged members of the public.
Although he initially pleaded not guilty while represented by state-assigned legal counsel, Otieno later chose to change his plea without his advocate present.
Despite being repeatedly warned by the court that murder carries a maximum penalty of death, he maintained his admission of guilt to all four counts.
Prosecutor Mercy Muema successfully established the State’s case, presenting evidence of how the attacks unfolded.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Joe Omido reflected on the intrinsic value of human life, quoting poet John Donne’s Meditation XVII (“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind”).
Justice Omido emphasized that the deliberate killing of four people through deception and the abuse of family trust represented exceptional circumstances that warranted the ultimate punishment under the law, notwithstanding Otieno’s guilty plea and status as a first-time offender.
While the court sentenced Otieno to death for the murder of his son, it handed down identical death sentences for the killings of his wife, uncle, and neighbor, which will be held in abeyance for as long as the primary sentence remains in force.
Prosecutor Muema welcomed the ruling, stating that justice had been served for the victims and expressing condolences to the grieving family.
