A police officer who shot and killed fisherman Moses Wanyoike in Lake Naivasha in 2014 was yesterday jailed for 20 years.

While sending Evans Maliachi Wiyema to jail, High Court Judge Richard Mwongo, described the officer’s action as irresponsible and inhumane.

In his ruling, Mwongo noted that the officer held power and authority in society backed by the force of arms with citizens turning to him for protection and safety.

“The accused, however, misused his power and authority when he fired a bullet at the deceased who was at close range,” he said in his ruling.

He noted that the officer failed to report to his seniors about the incident.

Sorry for act

“The court shall in the fifth year of his sentence review the offender’s conduct and sentence based on reports of the probation officer and the prison service,” he said.

In his mitigation, the former anti-stock theft officer called for leniency, saying he regretted what he did.

Through his lawyer, Wiyema said that he was on his knees seeking forgiveness terming the incident as regrettable and unfortunate.

Wiyema had been charged that on the 27th July 2014 in Crescent Island in Naivasha he shot and killed Wanyoike who was fishing with his friends Johnson Ndichu and Douglas Tutu.

Following the ruling, the International Justice Mission (IJM) which represented Wanyoike’s family, said the ruling was a major victory against trigger-happy police officers.

IJM Kenya Country Director Benson Shamala said the court’s decision was a big step in holding errant police officers to account.

He noted that Wanyoike was just one of many young men who fall victim to excessive use of force by police officers.