This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
On March 1, 2014, a tragic incident occurred at Gakanga village in Kieni West Nyeri, where 27-year-old Jackson Ngara Nderitu attacked his father-in-law, Phillip Irungu Muturi, with a machete, resulting in his death.
The incident followed a domestic dispute over child custody, with Mr. Nderitu's wife, Purity Wambui Irungu, having returned to her parents' home, complaining of mistreatment and threats to kill her.
Mr. Nderitu's lawyer, Mr. Njuguna Kimani, submitted a mitigation plea, stating that his client was remorseful and had learned that crime does not pay during his five-year custody.
However, Justice Teresiah Matheka noted that Mr. Nderitu's claim of self-defence was an afterthought, as he had denied seeing the deceased on the fateful morning during the trial.
Mr. Nderitu's wife described him as violent and had threatened to kill her, and she lives in fear that he will carry out his threat if released.
Justice Matheka sentenced Mr. Nderitu to 25 years in jail, stating, 'As a society, we have become so angry and so uncommunicative that even marital problems are solved with fatal violence – surely the accused could have found another way to deal with the issue.'
