Former journalist Moses Dola/HANDOUT
Former journalist Moses Dola has been granted an early release from prison for killing his late wife, Wambui Kabiru. Dola, who was originally set to be released in July this year, had his sentence reviewed after a successful application.
"The court has carefully considered his plea for early release. He has indeed made a very compelling case for release considering that he has expressed deep remorse for the loss of the deceased's wife," said Judge Alexander Muteti.
"It is a case of tampering justice with Mercy. It is the hope of this court that Dola shall find a way of making his son understand why the mother lost her life in his hands," he added.
Dola was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing his wife, Wambui, a journalist with NTV back in 2018.
The then-trial judge Lagat-Korir substituted the charge facing Dola from murder to manslaughter. He then filed an application seeking to have his sentence reviewed, citing Chief Justice Martha Koome's directives issued in December 2022.
The CJ at the time directed all high courts to conduct revision in deserving cases to afford rehabilitation of offenders and achieve overall prison decongestion.
Muteti, in considering his application, ruled that prison facilities are meant to ensure that the objective of rehabilitation is achieved during the period a person is held in the facilities.
"The system of law in our country must be able to permit those that reform in the course of time to be able to be released from custody to rejoin society and be reintegrated if the objective of rehabilitation is to be realised," said the Judge.
Dola, in his application, told the court that he regrets his actions and has learned very useful lessons throughout the period he has been in custody.
He said that he is 'now reformed and is willing to change for the better if the court allows him another opportunity in life" Based on this, Muteti said Dola had made a compelling case for release considering he has expressed deep remorse for the loss of Wambui's life.
"The death was highly regrettable but since Dola has served the better part of his sentence, the remaining four months may not make much of a difference," said the Judge.
He subsequently allowed Dola's application and ruled that his term of imprisonment has been reduced to the period already served.
