Three men sentenced to death for violent robbery and killing two cousins
The court heard that the accused—John Ekwuam, Wilfred Njoroge, and Zachariah Lomunyien Kibet, alias Mrefu—while armed with dangerous weapons including Maasai swords, knives, and metal rods, jointly robbed Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu of a mobile phone and an unknown sum of money.
Three men who violently robbed and killed two relatives in Laikipia as they were heading to a church vigil (kesha) have been sentenced to death.
Principal Magistrate M. Wachira, sitting in Rumuruti, Laikipia County, convicted the trio after finding them guilty of robbery with violence, gang rape, and assault causing death.
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The court heard that the accused—John Ekwuam, Wilfred Njoroge, and Zachariah Lomunyien Kibet, alias Mrefu—while armed with dangerous weapons including Maasai swords, knives, and metal rods, jointly robbed Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu of a mobile phone and an unknown sum of money.
During the robbery, they brutally assaulted Wanjiku, leading to her death. In the same incident, Jeremiah Maina, her cousin, also lost his life.
The two victims, who were close relatives, had left Wanjiku’s home to attend an overnight church vigil but never returned.
While delivering the judgment, the magistrate cited several aggravating factors, including the use of weapons, the number of assailants, and the brutal nature of the crimes committed.
The court found that the prosecution, led by Oscar Lamisi, had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. It noted that the actions of the accused reflected a high degree of malice and disregard for human life and dignity, factors warranting the maximum penalty under the law.
Each of the accused was therefore sentenced to death for the offence of robbery with violence, and to 15 years’ imprisonment for the sexual assault offence.
“Having considered the submissions by both the prosecution and the defence, I hereby sentence each accused person to death for the robbery with violence charge and 15 years each for the sexual offence,” the magistrate ruled.
The convicts have the right to appeal within 14 days.
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