By Andrew Kariuki
A Kithimani court has sentenced Josephat Mutuku Kasyema to life imprisonment for violently robbing and assaulting 80-year-old Agnes Njeri Kilonzo, the mother of former Member of Parliament Charles Kilonzo.
Delivering the judgment, the court described the attack as “vicious, deliberate and inhumane,” noting that the elderly victim was left permanently traumatized and lost her ability to speak following the ordeal.
According to the prosecution led by Fred Nderitu, Lydia Wang’ombe and James Gachoka, the accused stormed into the victim’s home at Ndarani area in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos, on December 8, 2023, armed with a panga.
He then attacked the octogenarian, inflicting deep cuts on her head before robbing her of a Samsung Galaxy J2 phone valued at Ksh 15,000 and an unknown amount of money.
The court heard that Kasyema tied the defenseless woman with ropes, leaving her bleeding and alone in the house before neighbors rescued her hours later.
In his ruling, the magistrate condemned the act as “an attack not just on one person but on human dignity itself,” emphasizing that elderly victims deserve heightened protection under the law.
Kasyema’s sentencing underscores the judiciary’s firm stance against gender and age-based violence, particularly targeting vulnerable members of society.
He was found guilty of robbery with violence.
The case has drawn public attention for its brutality and the high-profile nature of the victim, with many hailing the court’s decision as a strong message against crimes targeting senior citizens.
