A university student, Fredrick Mwonjoria, has been found guilty of killing 15-year-old Valerian Njeri in Naivasha. The High Court, led by Lady Justice Grace Nzioka, ruled that the evidence clearly showed he was responsible for the crime.
The court heard that in 2019, when Mwonjoria was 17 years old, he lured Njeri into his house in Mirera Estate, Naivasha. He then attacked her with a knife, stabbing her 12 times. The judge said his actions showed anger and intent to kill.
After the murder, Mwonjoria hid the body in his room, ate a meal with his family, and later dumped the body outside his house. Bloodstains in his room and on his clothes proved his guilt. The prosecution also pointed out that he could not explain how he ended up covered in blood.
Justice Nzioka said the crime was brutal and showed clear malice. She noted that the number of stab wounds proved it was not an accident.
Mwonjeria’s lawyer, Benjamin Bogonko, asked for leniency because Mwonjoria is now a university student and was about to present his project proposal. However, the judge ordered that he remain in prison until his sentencing on February 23, 2025.
This case raises questions about how the law should treat minors who commit serious crimes. While young offenders are sometimes given lighter sentences, the brutality of this case may lead to a tough punishment. The court’s decision on sentencing will determine how justice is served.
By Kenyans