Former Riruta MCA jailed for 30 years for killing ex-wife

Former Riruta Ward MCA Samuel Ndungu Njoroge who was convicted in the murder of his ex-wife alongside two others has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Appearing before Kiambu High Court Judge Joel Ngugi on Friday, Njoroge and his co-accused namely Joyce Njambi Mungai and Wilson Mwangi Munyua were slapped with the sentence for the brutal murder of Lucy Njambi Nyagiko.

According to a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the judge in his ruling underscored the gravity of the offence, labelling it “sadistic.”

“Justice Ngugi stated that the accused persons brutally murdered the deceased Lucy Njambi Nyagiko who was not yet 25 years old,” ODPP stated.

“While delivering the sentence, the judge further stated that the act of the accused persons was an extreme act of domestic violence and femicide carried out in the most brutish and sadistic ways.”

Njambi died on January 26, 2018, at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where she was receiving treatment after allegedly being raped and doused with acid by people who kidnapped her from her house at Thindigua along Kiambu road on January 24.

She was buried at her parent's home in Karembu village, Gatundu South constituency. 

During the MCA’s conviction early this month, the judge cited his history of aggression and assault cases which led to his conclusion that marital discord drove him to commit the crime.

As for the second and third accused, Justice Ngugi said their involvement which placed them at the crime scene solidified the case.

Joyce is said to have purchased the sulphuric acid used in the attack while Munyua's presence at the time of the crime was established through mobile phone data records.