A Nakuru man received a life sentence in 2019 for a series of armed robberies committed in 2017, including attacks on M-PESA agents and retail businesses. The crimes occurred in September 2017, with the defendant, Harun Ndirangu, allegedly using firearms and weapons to steal cash from multiple locations.
Prosecution witnesses included ten business owners who described being forced to the ground during raids. Samuel Waweru Githinji testified that Ndirangu, armed with an AK-47, emptied his store’s cash register in 15 minutes. Mbugua Njoroge recounted being ordered to the floor during a supermarket robbery, while M-PESA agent Jane Mbuthia described escaping through a back door during an attack.
Police recovered a Ceska pistol, an AK-47 rifle, and ammunition from Ndirangu’s vehicle, which were analyzed by ballistic experts. The court heard that Ndirangu also targeted an M-PESA agent, stealing Sh50,000. The defendant denied the charges, claiming he was relocating when arrested.
Judge Yvonne Khatambi ruled the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. A pre-sentence report recommended against probation, citing the defendant’s unsuitability for community-based rehabilitation. The court imposed a life sentence, granting Ndirangu two weeks to appeal.
