Three men sentenced to death for robbing, gang raping woman and her cousin in Laikipia

Three people have been handed a life sentence over robbery with violence and gang rape charges that resulted in deaths of two people in Laikipia.

The accused, John Ekwuam, Wilfred Njoroge, and Zachariah Lomunyien Kibet, alias Mrefu, appeared before Laikipia Magistrate’s Court in Rumuruti, where they were charged with robbing and assaulting Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu and her cousin Jeremiah Maina, leading to their deaths.

The court also heard that the trio had also gang raped the first victim (Tabitha).

“…while armed with dangerous weapons, namely Maasai swords, knives, and metal rods, they jointly robbed Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu of a mobile phone and an unknown amount of money,” the Office of the Director of Criminal Investigations (ODPP) said in a statement.

“In the course of the robbery, they brutally assaulted her, resulting in her death. During the same incident, another victim, Jeremiah Maina, also lost his life.”

In its ruling, the court found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, noting that “The actions of the accused demonstrated a high degree of malice and disregard for human life and dignity, warranting the maximum penalty prescribed by law.”

The court was also told that the two cousins had left Tabitha’s home to attend an overnight church vigil (Kesha) but never returned.

Magistrate Wachira in her judgement underscored aggravating factors in the case, including the use of weapons, the number of assailants involved, and the brutal nature of the offences committed.

Each of the accused was sentenced to death for the offence of robbery with violence and to 15 years’ imprisonment for sexual assault.