[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 6



KENYA:

Njue calls for scraping of death penalty


Nairobi Archbishop John cardinal Njue has called on parliament to scrap
the death penalty imposed on convicts on the death row.

Chapter 6 subsection 25 of the penal code states that where any person is
sentenced to death, the form of the sentence shall be to the effect only
that he is to suffer death in the manner authorized by law.

The last time anyone was convicted to death was in 1983 when renegade
soldier Hezekiah Ochuka was hanged at the Kamiti maximum-security prison
for the aborted coup in 1982.

A death sentence requires the approval of the President.

Apart from Ochuka's execution, no death row convict has been hanged
perhaps explaining why most of them have remained in cells and ended up
dying of natural causes.

Njue wants parliament to scrap the law arguing that the right to life is
inherently fundamental and only God can take it away.

At the same time he reasserted that they opposed abortion saying the
sanctity of life must be respected and urged women to take charge of their
own sexuality.

The cardinal was speaking at the 5th Memorial Service for the late
Cardinal Maurice Otunga at the Resurrection Gardens in Karen on Saturday.

Catholic faithful thronged the gardens in Karen in remembrance of the late
Cardinal.

They also mark the beginning of the quest for the prelate's canonization.

(source: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation)