A Kithimani court has sentenced Josephat Mutuku Kasyema to death for violently attacking and robbing 80-year-old Agnes Njeri Kilonzo, the mother of former Member of Parliament Charles Kilonzo. The brutal assault left the elderly woman badly injured and unable to speak.
According to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the court was told that Kasyema tied the victim with ropes before stealing her Samsung Galaxy J2 phone, valued at Ksh 15,000, and an unknown amount of cash. He then attacked her with a panga, leaving her for dead inside her home.
“The attack was so vicious and heartless that it led Agnes to lose the power of speech,” the statement said.
The incident took place on December 8, 2023, in Ndarani, Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County. After committing the crime, Kasyema fled, leaving the elderly woman bound and severely injured. She was later found and rescued by neighbors. The court, in delivering its judgment, noted the cruelty of the act and its devastating effect on the victim.
Prosecutors Fred Nderitu, Lydia Wang’ombe, and James Gachoka presented evidence showing how Kasyema planned and executed the attack. Witnesses testified to the events, helping the court establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In issuing the death sentence, the court underscored that such violent crimes, especially against the elderly, cannot be tolerated. The ruling emphasized that justice must be served for victims of extreme violence and that offenders who target vulnerable citizens will face the full force of the law.
The judgment stands as a strong message against violent offenses in Machakos County and across the country, reaffirming the judiciary’s resolve to protect citizens and ensure that those who commit such crimes are held accountable.
