Ruth Kamande, Inmate Who Stabbed Boyfriend 25 Times Graduates With Law Degree

Ruth Kamande, an inmate at Lang'ata Women's Prison serving a life sentence for murder, graduated with a law degree from the University of London on Wednesday, November 26.

During the graduation ceremony, Kamande delivered an emotionally charged speech that emphasised the profound impact of educational opportunities within the prison system. Convicted of fatally stabbing her boyfriend 25 times, Kamande emphasizes the importance of her academic achievement, portraying it as a narrative of rehabilitation and personal growth. She expresses deep gratitude to the Kenya Prison Service, the University of London, and Justice Defenders for providing inmates with educational opportunities that can fundamentally reshape lives.

“We are not here to just celebrate graduands from the University of London, but graduands who have successfully studied law behind bars. Graduands who are well transformed, rehabilitated and reformed. Graduands whose stories have been uniquely rewritten by you.” Kamande said in her graduation speech.

Kamande's legal journey was particularly inspired by former Attorney General Githu Muigai, who is currently leading her ongoing appeal at the Supreme Court. She recounts how Muigai's involvement in her case motivated her to pursue legal studies, seeing an opportunity to transform her circumstances and potentially assist others in similar situations. In 2016, Kamande gained media attention by winning the Miss Lang'ata Women's Prison contest, and during her trial, she maintained that her actions were in self-defence during a domestic dispute.

“When I heard that Justice Defenders are offering the opportunity to instil dignity through education, I said I would try. I knew there were so many challenges because I was serving on death row but I decided to take the chance so that in future I could help somebody like Professor Githu Muigai helped me,” she told the graduands

Initially sentenced to death, her conviction was commuted to life imprisonment by President William Ruto in July 2023, and she was granted an opportunity to appeal her sentence at the Supreme Court in October 2023. Referencing Hamisi Nari, a former inmate who is now a practising High Court advocate, Kamande highlights the potential of legal education for imprisoned individuals.