Former Kenyan Athlete Sentenced to 80 Years in Mexican Prison, Family Seeks Government Intervention
A Kenyan man from Baringo County has reportedly been sentenced to 80 years in prison in Mexico, prompting renewed calls for the Kenyan government to intervene on his behalf.
The man, identified as Barsitei Lelemoi (also reported as Barsitei Rerimoi), is said to have been arrested in Mexico over alleged involvement in a narcotics-related case. During a session of Kenya’s Parliament, Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap described the sentence as excessively harsh, noting that the man was around 40 years old and that the prison term was effectively a life sentence.
The legislator appealed to Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to pursue diplomatic and legal avenues to establish the circumstances of the case and explore whether assistance can be offered to the imprisoned Kenyan. He also claimed that the prisoner’s family, who are peasant farmers in Baringo, had been ordered to pay a substantial fine they cannot afford.
The case has attracted attention among Kenyans both at home and in the diaspora, with many calling on the government to strengthen consular support for citizens facing legal challenges abroad.
Authorities are yet to provide a detailed public update on the progress of any diplomatic intervention.
