A man in Siaya County has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter after lacing avocados with poison that killed a seven-year-old boy. The incident took place in December 2024 in Onono Village, where the child ate the contaminated fruit. The court weighed the emotional and psychological impact on the family alongside community hostility.
In Onono Village, Siaya County, a tragic event unfolded in December 2024. The accused prepared two avocados to eat and placed them on the table, deciding to lace one with rat poison to eliminate rodents. Upon returning from the bathroom, he found the child breathing in pain after consuming the poisoned avocado. In panic, he concealed the body and later that evening packed it into a soda crate, tied it to his bicycle, and disposed of it in a nearby farm.
Following a plea bargain, the initial murder charge was reduced to manslaughter. The court stated: “The accused prepared two avocados to eat and placed them on the table but decided to lace one with rat poison to help in eliminating rats; he went out into the bathroom but only to find out the deceased breathing in pain on the floor and then learnt that the deceased had consumed one of the poisoned avocados, and that in panic he decided to conceal the body and later in the evening packed it in a crate of soda, tied it onto his bicycle and disposed of it in a nearby farm.”
A probation report described a hostile village environment, with community threats against the accused. The accused was also said to have planned to burn the deceased's parents' house upon release. The court added: “The death of the deceased has affected his parents emotionally and psychologically, and they fear for their lives after the accused, who is still in custody, sent threats to them to the effect that once released, he will avenge by also burning their homestead.”
Drawing on the Judiciary Sentencing Policy Guidelines, the court emphasized goals like deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation, and community protection. While manslaughter carries a maximum of life imprisonment, the judge imposed 15 years, effective from the arrest date of December 11, 2024. The judge remarked: “The action of the accused placing rat poison on the fruits in order to get rid of the deceased was unlawful, and thus the death was unwarranted.”