Murang’a court slaps man with 20-year jail term for murder

The High Court in Murang’a has handed Ezekiel Saitabu Nakola a 20-year imprisonment term after he was found guilty of murdering Grace Wangari Mwangi.

The offence occurred on 20th March 2017 at Karega Sub-Location, Kigumo Location, Kigumo Sub-County within Murang’a County.

Justice Kanyi Kimondo reviewed the evidence presented by the prosecution through Ms. AnnPenny Gakumu and Ms. Caroline Muriu and ruled it proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Twelve witnesses had testified in the case.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Kimondo further noted that the accused had not only committed the heinous crime, but also attempted to conceal the body, causing psychological trauma to the family.

The court reviewed the victim’s family’s perspective and determined that this action is one from which they are yet to heal, and thus a custodial sentence was appropriate.

The court heard that the accused had been employed by Grace Wangari Mwangi, mother to famed Bishop Pius Muiru, as her farmhand, a position he held for 10 years.

On the fateful day, the accused had strangled the deceased and buried her behind the cowshed, where the carcass of a cow had been buried a few days earlier.

The top was covered with a heap of sand and banana stems.

In an attempt to cover up, he continued to steal from her MPESA account and household items from his girlfriend’s house in Karega, Murang’a County.

The court found that the ingredients of murder were proved beyond reasonable doubt, and while there were no eyewitnesses or an admissible confession, the circumstances of the case created a complete chain to the guilt of the accused.