The High Court on Friday, April 5, 2024, delivered a ruling on the death of Lucy Njambi Nyagiko whose demise shocked the nation six years ago.
The court found former Riruta Ward MCA Samuel Njoroge his girlfriend Joyce Njambi and one Wilson Mungai guilty of Lucy Nyagiko’s murder.
Justice Joel Ngugi was granted authority by the Chief Justice to conclude the matter after hearing the testimonies from 38 witnesses lined up by the prosecution.
Ngugi noted that the court was satisfied with the evidence adduced by prosecution witnesses.
“The compelling evidence provided by the prosecution highlighted the excessively jealous nature of the first accused (Samuel Njoroge), who had a history of assaulting the deceased and displaying aggression towards perceived romantic rivals,” the Judge said in his ruling.
Justice Ngugi found that marital discord drove the first accused to orchestrate the crime.
The judge also noted that the prosecution proved the involvement of the second and the third accused persons in the crime.
“The involvement of the second accused in purchasing sulfuric acid, used in the attack, and the presence of the third accused near the crime scene as confirmed through mobile phone data records solidified the case,” he said.
Justice Ngugi emphasized that the prosecution’s evidence formed an indisputable chain leading to the guilt of all accused parties.
The three, Samuel Ndungu Njoroge a former MCA for Riruta Ward 2013-2017, Joyce Njambi Mungai and Wilson Mwangi Munyua were accused of committing the offence on January 24, 2018, in Kiambu County.
Lucy Nyagiko was kidnapped from her home in Thindigua estate along Kiambu Road on January 24, 2018, at around 8 pm.
She was raped, doused with acid, and left for dead in a coffee plantation near Kamiti corner along the Ruiru-Kiambu road.
Nyagiko was rescued by a Good Samaritan who rushed her to Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, where she was given first aid before being transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for specialised treatment.
She died on January 26, 2018, while receiving treatment at KNH.
The court was told that former Riruta Ward MCA Samuel Njoroge was Lucy Nyagiko’s estranged husband. They had been married since 2012 until late 2017 when they separated.
The court was also told that the second accused Joyce Njambi was the girlfriend of Njoroge while the third accused person was a close friend of the duo.
The three had denied the murder charges levelled against them.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2024.
