High Court shuts down Jackson Kihara Gachucha's bid to overturn 20-year robbery sentence

In a ruling delivered by Justice Alexander Muteti, the court found that the issues raised by Kihara had already been determined by the Court of Appeal and could not be revisited by the High Court in the manner sought.

Kihara, who is serving his sentence at Manyani Maximum Prison, had asked the court to review both his conviction and sentence, claiming that he was framed and improperly convicted.

He also argued that the four years he spent in remand custody before sentencing were not taken into account and described the 20-year jail term as excessive. 

The inmate further told the court that he had rehabilitated while in prison, including training as a teacher, and urged the judge to consider his conduct during incarceration. 

Kihara, who claims to be a son of the late former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, had also alleged that his prosecution was linked to a dispute over documents relating to his late father's estate.

He maintained that he had been framed and intimidated over the documents. 

However, Justice Muteti held that the High Court could not reopen factual issues that had already been considered and determined by the Court of Appeal unless there were grounds for a retrial.

The judge advised Kihara that some of the matters he had raised fell outside the jurisdiction of the High Court and could only be pursued before the Supreme Court.