- Joseph Mutuku Kasyema was found guilty of robbery contrary to Section 296(2) of the Penal Code
- The court heard that Kasyema and his accomplices entered Agnes Njeri’s house in Ndalani village and attacked her
- They also stole the woman’s cellphone worth KSh 15,000 and an undisclosed amount of money
Machakos – The Kithimani Court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for brutally attacking and robbing the mother of the former Member of Parliament for Yatta, Charles Kilonzo, an incident that left the 80-year-old woman unable to speak until today.
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The accused, Joseph Mutuku Kasyema, was found guilty of robbery with violence contrary to Section 296(2) of the Penal Code.
The case stemmed from an incident in 2018 where Kasyema and others, who were not present in court, forcibly entered Agnes Njeri Kilonzo, the widow of the late Police Commissioner Philip Kilonzo, in Ndalani village, Yatta sub-county, Machakos.
How did Kasyema attack the mother of the former MP?
According to court records, the attackers broke into the house on the night of December 8, 2018, after breaking the padlock on the kitchen door using a metal plate and what appeared to be a conventional explosive device.
Once inside, they attacked the elderly woman with weapons, including swords and irons, before taking her mobile phone worth KSh 15,000 and an unknown amount of money.
During the brutal attack, the accused attacked the victim on the left side of his head, causing massive bleeding on the brain.
Medical reports released in court showed that the injury affected the part of the brain related to speech, making him unable to speak to this day.
The brutal attack forced doctors to open part of his head to drain the blood that had pooled from leaking inside the body.
“The accused and his accomplices brutally attacked the victim and left her to die. Such an act to an old woman who would be enjoying her old age is cruel and deserves an exemplary punishment,” noted the Chief Justice P. Wechuli when delivering the sentence.
Why did the court give Kasyema a life sentence?
In his judgement, Judge Wechuli referred to the 2025 Court of Appeal decision in the case of Ashibabi v Republic, which confirmed that the death penalty for robbery with violence is still suitable for Kenya.
However, he exercised legal discretion by sentencing the accused to life imprisonment instead of death.
The court mentioned that Kasyema’s actions were planned in advance and were carried out with great brutality.
“The attack was not only violent but planned, showing complete disrespect for human life,” added the judge.
Kasyema has been given a life sentence while the police continue to search for his accomplices who are outside the law.
In May, three people, John Ekwuam, Wilfred Njoroge, and Zachariah Lomunyien Kibet, were sentenced to death for armed robbery, murder, and assault.
The victims, cousins Tabitha Wanjiku Njogu and Jeremiah Maina, were attacked with weapons during a robbery after attending a church service.
When handing down the harsh punishment, the court cited aggravating factors, including the use of weapons and violence.
Additional reporting by Agnes Mutio, TUKO.co.ke reporter, Machakos County.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
