Late MP Muchai case: Court sentences 4 in robbery with violence to death
By Zipporah Ngwatu, April 9, 2026A Nairobi court has sentenced the first four people in the late Kabete Member of Parliament (MP) George Muchai’s robbery-with-violence case to death.
The convicts are Erick Munyera Isabwa, also known as Chairman Raphael; Kimani Gachie, alias Kim Butcher; Mustafa Kimani Anyoni, alias Musto; and Stephen Ashitiva Lipapo, alias Chokore.
In a detailed sentence, Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, stated that he has considered the mitigations made in relation to each of the convict hearings.
Magistrate Onyina has said that the court noted a plea for leniency by all the convicts in respect of each, and each expressed remorse over their actions.
However, the learned magistrate stated that while the first, second, third and fourth convicts have indicated remorse, the offences are very serious, and the victims also deserve their peace.
In addition, the court noted that the offences were committed with utmost impunity, armed with a rifle previously robbed from a police officer, and the circumstances in which the robberies were committed call for the sentences.
“I consider the following sentences reasonable and appropriate; for count numbers one, two and three, each of the first, second, third and fourth accused persons was convicted and sentenced to death as by law provided on each of the state count numbers one, two and three,” Magistrate Onyina ruled.
Notably, the court has sentenced the fifth and sixth convicts, Jane Wanjiru, alias ‘Shiru’, and Margaret Njeri Wachiuri, to ten years each for the offences they were found guilty of.
The court convicted the first four for robbing Michael Ngatia Gituto while armed with dangerous weapons, namely a G3 rifle and pistols, on February 6, 2015, at about 2200 hours along Waiyaki Way within Nairobi.
The quartet robbed Ngatia of his motor vehicle, a gas cylinder and two mobile phones and, at the time of such robbery, threatened to use actual violence on him.
They were also found guilty of robbing Gladys Waithera of a motor vehicle, a mobile phone, a laptop, and Ksh 1,000 cash while armed with a G3 rifle and pistols on February 7, 2015, while at Green Belt Estate in the Wangige area within Kiambu County.
Notably, the four, while at the same estate on the same date, robbed Irene Muthoni Wambui of a mobile phone and cash of Ksh 600, and, at the time of such robbery, threatened to use actual violence against her.
However, the court found that the other three, Jane Wanjiru Kamau, alias Shiro; Margaret Njeri Wachiuri; and Simon Wambugu Gichamba, are not guilty of the three counts.
“Following findings under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code, each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh accused persons (Wanjiru, Njeri and Wambugu) is not guilty of each of the said counts, numbers 1, 2, and 3, and is each acquitted of the said counts, numbers 1, 2, and 3,” Magistrate Onyina ruled.
The court also found Eric Isabwa and Margaret Njeri guilty of being in possession of a firearms certificate contrary to section 4(2)(a) as read with sections 4(a)(b) of the Firearms Act, Cap. 114, Laws of Kenya.
The particulars of the offence state that Isabwa and Njeri were unlawfully found in possession of a G3 rifle without a firearms certificate on February 13, 2015, while at Area 67 Kinoo within Kiambu County.
They were also found guilty of being in possession of seven rounds of 7.62 millimetre calibre ammunition without a firearms certificate on the same date and in the same area.
The court also convicted Raphael Kimani, alias Kim Butcher, for unlawfully being found in possession of a Ceska pistol, serial number G4726, without a firearms certificate on February 13, 2015, at Rironi within Kiambu County.
Kimani was found guilty of being in possession of 15 rounds of 9-millimetre calibre ammunition without a firearm certificate on February 13, 2015, at Rironi, Kiambu County, unlawfully.
Jane Wanjiru Kamau, also known as Chiro, was found guilty of unlawfully being in possession of two rounds of 9-millimetre calibre ammunition without a firearms certificate on February 13, 2015, at the Kanyamanga area in Kangemi within Nairobi.