Ruto pardons ex KEMRI director, petty offenders

By Peter Ochieng

Over 5, 000 people arrested, charged and sentenced for committing various crimes have a reason to smile.

The have been pardoned by President William Ruto, after recommendations by the advisory committee on the power of mercy.

According to a gazette notice, those pardoned include petty offenders.

“Two thousand, nine hundred and forty-four (2, 944) petty or minor offenders of good conduct convicted to sentences of six months and below; and two thousand, one hundred and seventeen (2, 117) long term offenders who have sentence balances of six months and below to serve,” reads the notice.

Similarly, the Head of State pardoned pardoned 37 other offenders including former Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) director Davy Koech.

Koech was found guilty on three counts of fraudulent acquisition of public property.

He was sentenced to six years in prison in September, 2021.

President Ruto has also commuted the death sentence on capital offenders to a life sentence.