The Court of Appeal has upheld a 20-year prison sentence handed to Josephat Mauti, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer, for the fatal shooting of a bar attendant in Kisii town. The verdict affirms a 2019 High Court ruling that found Mauti guilty of murdering the unarmed man in a tragic incident described as both cruel and inexcusable.
The shooting occurred on the night of April 11, 2019, after Mauti entered a bar while armed with a service pistol. Witnesses testified that he appeared intoxicated and agitated, swearing in Ekegusii that he intended to kill someone. Tensions escalated when the bar attendant demanded payment for food and drinks consumed by Mauti. In response, the officer drew his weapon and shot the attendant at close range, causing fatal injuries to multiple organs.
During the trial, Corporal Ezekiel Kiomi, in charge of the police station’s armoury, testified that Mauti confessed to the shooting. When he returned to the station, Mauti surrendered his weapon, which had one bullet missing from the 30 rounds he had been issued earlier that evening.
Despite Mauti’s denial and claim that he was unsure how the bullet had been fired, the court found his testimony unconvincing. He maintained that he had no prior issues with the public and had served the police service honorably since 2002. However, the evidence presented including his own statements and corroboration from fellow officers—proved otherwise.
In its April 4, 2025 decision, the Court of Appeal emphasized the brutality and senselessness of the act, noting that the victim was an innocent, unarmed individual simply carrying out his job. The appellate judges dismissed Mauti’s argument that there was no malice aforethought, asserting that the nature of the attack clearly demonstrated intent.
“This was a needless, cruel and heartless crime,” the ruling stated. “The conviction for murder was merited, and the sentence appropriate.”
Mauti will now serve the remainder of his 20-year term, a sobering reminder of the grave consequences of abuse of power, especially by those entrusted with the duty to protect.
