Three persons found guilty of robbery with violence and gang rape have been sentenced to death by a principal magistrat’s court in Rumuruti, Laikipia County.

The three; John Ekwuam, Wilfred Njoroge, and Zachariah Lomunyien Kibet, alias Mrefu, while armed with dangerous weapons, namely Maasai swords, knives, and metal rods, jointly robbed Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu of a mobile phone and an unknown amount of money.

In the course of the robbery, they brutally assaulted her, resulting in her death.

During the same incident, the court heard that another victim, Jeremiah Maina, also lost his life. The two victims, who were cousins, had left Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu’s home to attend an overnight church vigil (kesha) but never returned.

They were also charged with the gang rape of the deceased, Tabitha Wanjiku, committed intentionally and without her consent, contrary to the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act.

In delivering the judgment, M. Wachira noted the aggravating factors in the case, including the use of weapons, the number of assailants involved, and the brutal nature of the offences committed.

The court found that the prosecution, through Mr. Oscar Lamisi, had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt. It found 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.

Accordingly, each accused was sentenced to death for the offence of robbery with violence and to fifteen (15) years’ imprisonment for the offence of sexual assault.