After nearly a decade of courtroom drama, public debate, and emotional appeals, the Supreme Court of Kenya has upheld the death sentence for Ruth Wanjiku Kamande, the woman convicted of one of the country’s most harrowing and widely publicized murder cases.
Kamande, once dubbed “the beauty behind bars” after being crowned Miss Lang’ata Women’s Prison in 2016, was found guilty of the brutal murder of her boyfriend, Farid Mohamed Halim, whom she stabbed 25 times during a violent altercation at their Buruburu home in September 2015.
The final judgment, delivered on Friday, April 11, by the country’s highest court, brings to an end a seven-year legal battle marked by public fascination, controversy, and fierce debate over domestic violence, mental health, and justice.
Kamande, now in her early 30s, had appealed the death sentence, arguing that the court had failed to fully consider her claims of emotional and psychological abuse — a defense rooted in what her legal team described as “battered woman syndrome.”
But the Supreme Court saw things differently.
“The nature and extent of the injuries inflicted on the deceased, the number of stab wounds, and the deliberate manner of the attack, all point to premeditated intent to kill,” read part of the ruling.
“This was not an act of self-defense. It was cold, calculated, and sustained violence.”
According to the court records, Halim died after a prolonged assault in which he was stabbed over two dozen times, including wounds to his chest, back, and neck. Medical evidence presented during trial indicated that the attack lasted several minutes — enough time, prosecutors argued, to stop and walk away.
Kamande’s story shocked the nation in 2015. Her glamorous photos in the courtroom contrasted sharply with the horrific details of the murder, turning her into a polarizing figure. Some viewed her as a victim of abuse who snapped, while others saw a manipulative killer hiding behind a tragic narrative.
In 2018, Justice Jessie Lesiit sentenced her to death, saying her actions showed malice aforethought and deserved the harshest possible punishment. “Young people should know it is not cool to kill your boyfriend or girlfriend when a relationship fails,” the judge remarked at the time.
While Kenya has not carried out a death penalty since 1987, the sentence remains legal — often commuted to life imprisonment. With this final ruling, Kamande now faces a lifetime behind bars, her fate sealed unless a presidential pardon intervenes.
The case has sparked fresh conversations about the limits of self-defense, mental health in criminal cases, and whether Kenya’s courts are equipped to navigate the complexities of abusive relationships.
As the country reflects on the conclusion of this haunting saga, one thing remains certain: Farid Halim is dead. Ruth Kamande will never be free. And a love story once filled with promise ended in unimaginable violence.
