Murder Convict Ruth Kamande Earns Law Degree While Serving Time at Kamiti Prison
Ruth Kamande, convicted of fatally stabbing her boyfriend Farid Mohamed Halim 25 times, has graduated with a law degree while serving her sentence at Kamiti Maximum Prison.
She is among 17 inmates who completed their law studies through the University of London program offered at the facility.
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Expressing gratitude for her achievement, Kamande credited Justice Defenders for providing her the opportunity to study.
“When I was convicted, I wished for a good lawyer to help with my case. Githu Muigai came to my aid, and his support inspired me. I decided to pursue law so I could one day help others, just as he helped me,” she shared.
Kamande admitted there were moments she felt like giving up.
“There was a time I almost quit. The workload felt overwhelming—the books were just too much. But the officers encouraged me, checked in on me, and involved me in various programs to balance my emotions and maintain mental stability. Graduating today means so much to me,” she added.
Kamande was sentenced to death in 2018 after being found guilty of murdering Farid. The case involved testimony from 15 prosecution witnesses.
Challenging her conviction and sentence, she filed an appeal, claiming that evidence at the crime scene had been compromised after members of the public accessed the house. However, appellate judges dismissed her appeal, stating that she failed to provide proof of evidence tampering or how it affected the case.
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The Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s ruling, asserting that Judge Jessie Lessit had correctly evaluated the evidence, which painted an undeniable picture of Kamande’s intent to kill.
“There is no doubt Kamande inflicted the injuries that caused Farid’s death, including 25 stab wounds to his chest, hands, legs, head, abdomen, back, and shoulders,” the judges concluded.
Her appeal was denied in November 2020.
Ruth Kamande, the only surviving child of her single mother after the loss of her younger brother, had just been admitted to JKUAT to study business at the time of her arrest.
During the trial, Kamande argued that the fatal confrontation occurred after she discovered a hospital card indicating Farid was undergoing HIV treatment. When she confronted him, she claimed he threatened her, saying he would rather die than have his HIV status exposed.
The situation escalated further when she found letters from two other women, sparking an argument. Kamande stated that the stabbing occurred during a struggle, claiming the kitchen knife accidentally fell into her hands.
