The High Court in Murang’a has convicted Ezekiel Saitabu Nakola of the offence of murder of 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 found that the evidence presented by the prosecution through Ms. Ann Penny Gakumu and Ms. Caroline Muriu proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through the evidence from twelve witnesses.
The court heard that the accused had been employed by Grace Wangari Mwangi, mother to renown 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, before covering the place 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 prosecution proved its case 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.
During previous court sessions, the court heard the killing of Wangari — who was 75 years at the time — might have been provoked by an illicit affair between Saitabu and Monica Muthoni, her daughter-in-law.
During investigations, it was revealed that Saitabu and Muthoni were having an affair, to the disapproval of Wangari.
“She complained a lot about her daughter-in-law and the watchman, but her son wasn’t bothered so much. Muthoni and Saitabu were rude to her and she even beefed security at home fearing for her safety. She would lock herself inside her house before 9pm,” an elder from the area told The Standard back then.
At the time, Wangari lived in her home in Kigumo with two watchmen (one of them her killed), his two sons; Mathew Waweru and Philip Kabue and Muthoni, who is the wife of Waweru, the deceased’s last born.
Bishop Muiru would visit his mother in the village regularly.
The matter will be mentioned on 19/9/2024 when it comes up for sentencing.
