“Essentially, the accused is not beyond reform and therefore the death sentence is not merited.”The court was unmoved. The moment that drew attentionAfter pronouncing the death sentence, Justice Magare broke his pen, a rare gesture in Kenyan courts. Instead, it is a centuries-old judicial tradition used in some jurisdictions after delivering a death sentence. In medieval and early modern Europe, particularly in Germany, France and parts of Eastern Europe, judges presiding over capital cases would break a quill after pronouncing a death sentence. “A death sentence is the most serious order a court can make.”Despite its symbolism, the broken pen does not end the legal process.

Source: The Star February 20, 2026 18:14 UTC