By Andrew Kariuki
A Kiambu court has sentenced Joseph Ndichu Gitau to death after finding him guilty of robbery with violence, rape and murder of a woman in Gatei village, Gatundu North, in January 2025.
The court found that Prosecution Counsels Joy Kaaria and Wamuyu Ngugi, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), presented strong evidence proving that the accused and an accomplice still at large robbed and fatally assaulted the victim on January 17, 2025.
According to evidence presented in court, Gitau and his accomplice stole household items before attacking the woman. Forensic findings later confirmed that the deceased had been raped before or after the fatal assault.
Nine witnesses, including forensic experts, testified against the accused, linking him to the crime scene. Investigators recovered several stolen items and a kitchen knife identified as the murder weapon from his house.
Gitau was later arrested after he allegedly posted a photograph of himself on the victim’s Facebook account using her stolen phone, a move that alerted neighbours who had just discovered the woman’s body.
In delivering the sentence, the court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, describing the evidence as consistent, credible and comprehensive.
The ODPP welcomed the judgment, saying it reaffirmed its commitment to securing justice for victims of violent crimes and ensuring accountability for offenders.
