[2025] KEHC 10146 (KLR)

Republic v Kinyanjui (Criminal Case E014 of 2024) [2025] KEHC 10146 (KLR) (11 July 2025) (Sentence)

Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 10146 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Nyeri

Criminal Case E014 of 2024

MA Odero, J

July 11, 2025

Between

Republic

Prosecutor

and

Ruth Wanjiku Kinyanjui

Accused

Sentence

1. The accused Ruth Wanjiku Kinyanjui faced a charge of Murder Contrary To Section 203 as ready with Section 204 of the Penal Code.

2. The trial initially commenced before Hon. Justice Martin Muya on 22nd January 2025. The information was read out to the Accused and she entered a plea of ‘Guilty’. Thereafter the facts were read out and the Accused maintained an unequivocal plea of Guilty stating“It is true that I strangled her”She was then convicted of the charge of murder.

3. Counsel for the Accused then made statements in mitigation. A probation officers report was filed.

4. Following the transfer of the trial judge in Nairobi it now falls upon this court to impose a sentence.

5. I have considered the offence, I note that the accused pleaded Guilty thereby saving the court from the rigours of a full trial. I note that the accused has expressed her remorse for killing the child and that the parents of the child have forgiven her.

6. However it cannot be denied that Murder is a very serious offence. The actions of the accused led to the loss of the life of a very young child. The accused then hid the fact and lied to the parents that the child was missing a lie which she kept up for almost eighteen 18 years.

7. In my view a non-custodial sentence is not appropriate. In imposing sentence I am mindful of the fact that the accused was arrested on 25th November 2024 and is being sentenced in July 2025, a period of about eight (8) months spent in pre-trial custody.

8. I hereby sentence the accused to serve six (6) years imprisonment. Which sentence will be computed from 25th November 2024 the date when the Accused was arrested. Right of appeal explained.

DATED IN NYERI THIS 11TH DAY OF JULY 2025. ………………………MAUREEN A. ODEROJUDGE