A 22-year-old man linked to the killing of 17-year-old mother and sexual violence survivor Farida Kadzo Changawa has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a plea bargain reduced his murder charge to manslaughter.
The sentence was handed down by the High Court in Mombasa on Tuesday, May 12, in a case that has reignited concerns over the growing number of femicide cases in Kenya, particularly in vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Justice Wendy Kagendo Micheni ruled that while the accused had pleaded guilty and deserved consideration for taking responsibility, the court also had a duty to protect society and send a strong warning against gender-based violence.
Farida Kadzo Changawa, who was just 17 years old at the time of her death, was killed at her home in Kilifi County in June 2025. Her death sparked outrage among activists and residents, with rights groups calling for tougher action against perpetrators of violence targeting women and girls.
During sentencing, the court considered mitigation submissions from the defence, a pre-sentence probation report and a victim impact statement presented before the court.
Justice Micheni noted that the judiciary could not ignore the increasing cases of femicide being reported across the country.
“The court is alive to the global trend of femicide cases, which is rising at an alarming rate, especially in marginalised areas like Kilifi,” the judge said in her ruling.
The court heard that the accused entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, leading to the substitution of the initial murder charge with manslaughter. Under Kenyan law, murder can attract the death penalty or life imprisonment, while manslaughter carries a lesser sentence depending on the circumstances of the case.
Although the prosecution sought a stiff punishment, the judge ruled that imposing the maximum sentence of life imprisonment would be excessive given the offender’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors.
However, Justice Micheni stressed that the sentence needed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the devastating impact the killing had on the victim’s family and community.
The case has once again placed the spotlight on rising violence against women in Kenya, with campaigners urging authorities to strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure justice for victims of abuse and femicide.
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