Four individuals found guilty in the robbery with violence case linked to the murder of former Kabete Member of Parliament George Muchai have been sentenced to death, while two others have been handed 10-year prison terms.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina delivered the ruling on Thursday, April 9, after finding the six guilty on multiple counts, including robbery with violence and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The court heard that the accused were involved in the attack that led to the death of Muchai, his two bodyguards and his driver in a nighttime ambush in Nairobi in February 2015.

According to prosecutors, the gang, who were armed with firearms, targeted the former lawmaker while he was driving along Kenyatta Avenue in the city’s Central Business District (CBD).

In his judgment, Onyina stated that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence proving that the four main convicts played a key role in the violent robbery that resulted in the deaths.

He noted that the nature of the crime met the legal threshold for the death sentence under the law governing robbery with violence.

The two other accused individuals were sentenced after they were found guilty of offences related to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Onyina sentenced each of them to 10 years in prison, noting that while they were connected to the crime, the evidence did not directly place them at the scene of the crime.

Muchai, who was serving his first term as Kabete MP at the time, was widely known for his involvement in trade union leadership before joining politics, with his murder considered one of the most high-profile political assassinations in Kenya in recent years.

The case has taken over a decade to conclude, with multiple court appearances, witness testimonies, and legal arguments presented by both the prosecution and defence teams.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking the convicts to a series of coordinated robberies carried out in Nairobi around the same period.

The court noted that the attacks shared similar characteristics, including the use of firearms, the number of attackers involved and the method of execution, which strengthened the case against the accused.