A General Service Unit (GSU) officer, Josephat Mauti, will serve a 20-year prison sentence after the Court of Appeal upheld the previous ruling in connection with the fatal shooting of a bar attendant in Kisii. The tragic incident occurred on April 11, 2019, when Mauti, armed with a rifle, entered a bar in Kisii town. He reportedly made threatening remarks in Ekegusii, warning that he would shoot someone. Shortly afterward, he shot and killed a bar attendant who had asked him to pay for the food and drinks he had consumed.
Mauti initially denied responsibility for the shooting, offering a defense that contradicted testimonies from multiple sources, including fellow officers who were present at the scene. One of the officers, Corporal Ezekiel Kiomi, who was in charge of the station’s armoury, testified that Mauti had admitted to the crime. Kiomi further revealed that after retrieving Mauti’s firearm, he noticed that one bullet was missing from the 30 rounds issued earlier that evening.
Despite his claims of confusion, where he suggested that he had arrived at the bar after hearing a gunshot and not knowing how the shot was fired, Mauti’s account was inconsistent with the evidence presented. He further admitted to a colleague that he had discharged a bullet, which led to his immediate arrest when he surrendered the weapon.
In July 2019, the High Court convicted Mauti of murder, ruling that the shooting was both deliberate and unjustified. The judge found that the victim, an innocent and unarmed bar attendant, had been shot at close range, leading to severe internal injuries that resulted in his death. The court concluded that Mauti’s actions were both reckless and senseless, with no justification for the fatal shooting.
Mauti appealed the conviction, arguing that there was no clear evidence of premeditated intent, suggesting that the killing could have been accidental or the result of a moment of confusion. However, the Court of Appeal, in its ruling dated April 4, 2025, rejected this argument. The appellate judges emphasized that the killing was brutal and senseless, pointing out the victim’s vulnerability and the fact that he had been unarmed when shot.
The Court of Appeal judges noted that the evidence presented during the trial was substantial and conclusive. The victim had been shot at close range, and the severity of the injuries sustained confirmed that the act was not a mere accident. Furthermore, testimonies from fellow officers, including Corporal Kiomi, provided a clear account of Mauti’s involvement in the crime, contradicting his defense and claims of confusion.
The judges also found that the initial 20-year sentence was appropriate, given the severity of the crime and the lack of any mitigating factors. The ruling reinforced the importance of accountability for law enforcement officers, emphasizing that even those in positions of power and authority must be held to the highest standards of conduct.
Mauti’s appeal was ultimately unsuccessful, and the 20-year sentence stands as a reminder of the consequences of senseless violence, especially when committed by those entrusted with upholding the law. The case highlights the need for justice to be served, not only for the victims but also for the integrity of the law enforcement profession.
