A Makueni courtroom was filled with sorrow as Joseph Makuthi Mativo, a grieving father, struggled to testify against his own son, Erick Munyao Makuthi, who stands accused of murdering his mother, Magret Mumbua Makuthi.
The heartbreaking testimony took place before Makueni High Court Presiding Judge Teresia Matheka. Overcome by grief, Mativo attempted to walk away from the witness stand, unable to bear the weight of recounting the harrowing events of May 18, 2023. His body trembled as he fought back tears, and gasps filled the courtroom as police officers gently urged him to continue.
Judge Matheka, recognizing the father’s pain, encouraged him to complete his testimony, emphasizing the importance of his account in ensuring justice. “I know it is difficult to testify against your son, but it is paramount for you to finish giving your evidence to help the court reach a verdict,” she told the distraught father.
Mativo described the tragic events that unfolded in their home in Mwatini Village, Kilome. He was in Sultan Hamud when he received a distressing phone call from his daughter, Caroline Kanini. Her voice trembled with panic as she revealed that Erick had struck their mother on the head with a jembe following a heated argument over food.
The devastating news shattered Mativo’s world. His beloved wife lay lifeless in a pool of blood near their doorstep. His brother, Onesimus Mwongela, rushed to report the incident at the Sultan Hamud Police Station.
However, the case has faced significant challenges. The prosecution revealed that crucial witnesses, including Caroline, are missing. She is believed to be in Tanzania, but her exact whereabouts remain unknown.
With justice hanging in the balance, the court has set the next hearing for April 24, 2025. The family remains torn apart, struggling to come to terms with the unimaginable loss and the painful reality of a son standing trial for his mother’s murder.
