A Naivasha court has sentenced Fredrick Mwonjoria to 25 years in prison for the brutal murder of a 15-year-old girl who rejected his advances. The sentencing, delivered by Justice Grace Nzioki, brings closure to a case that has gripped the nation for the past six years.
Mwonjoria, who was a 17-year-old student at Nanyuki High School at the time of the crime, was found guilty of murdering the young girl, who had sought his help with school assignments. According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the two were neighbors, and Mwonjoria had been offering her extra academic lessons.
On the fateful day, the girl visited his home for tutoring but never returned. Her family, alarmed by her disappearance, searched for her extensively, only to discover her body along a roadside the following day. Her father later confirmed her identity, setting off a police investigation that led to Mwonjoria’s arrest.
The prosecution, led by Counsel Shirley Chepkonga, presented 12 witnesses to prove that Mwonjoria had invited the deceased for revision before making unwanted advances toward her. When she resisted, a struggle ensued, and she overpowered him while attempting to escape. In response, he stabbed her in the back. Panicking as she bled on the sofa, he moved her to the bedroom, where she lay in agony. He then inflicted multiple stab wounds on her face, chest, and back, ensuring her death.
During sentencing, Mwonjoria’s defense team pleaded for leniency, arguing that he was underage at the time of the crime and should be treated as a child under the Children Act 2022. However, the prosecution countered this argument, emphasizing that the severity of the offense required a deterrent sentence.
Justice Nzioki, citing legal precedents, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. She underscored that the murder had been premeditated and that the elements of the crime—including the act of killing and malice aforethought—were clearly established.
The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime and the importance of justice for victims and their families.
