MP Muchai case: DPP urges court to sentence 4 convicts to death
By Zipporah Ngwatu, April 7, 2026The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has urged the court to hand down a death sentence to the first four convicts in the deceased Kabete Member of Parliament (MP) George Muchai robbery-with-violence case.
Court on March 13, 2026, convicted Erick Munyera Isabwa, alias Chairman, Raphael Kimani Gachie, alias Kim Butcher, Mustafa Kimani Anyoni, alias Musto, Stephen Ashitiva Lipapo, alias ‘Chokore’, Jane Wanjiru, alias ‘Shiru’ and Margaret Njeri Wachiuri.
Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Monday, April 7, 2026, the DPP, through Principal Prosecution Counsel Willy Momanyi, urged the court to sentence the first four (Eric Isabwa, Raphael Kimani, Mustafa Anyoni and Stephen Lipapo) to death.
State Counsel Momanyi argues that the offending behaviour by Isabwa, Kimani, Mustafa and Lipapo resulting in the offences, was the use of dangerous weapons, namely pistols and a G3 rifle, during the robberies in question.
“It is our submission that this honourable Court metes out the death sentence against the 1st to the 4th accused persons (Isabwa, Kimani, Mustafa and Lipapo) in line with the principle of proportionality as provided for under clause 1.2.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines,” the prosecution states.
Gravity of the crime
In his submissions, the State Counsel further argues that the court, in its sentencing, should consider the gravity of the offence, the criminal history of the offender, the conduct of the offender and the protection of the community in line with clause 2.3.15 of the sentencing policy guidelines and pass a death sentence against the four.
“It is our submission that the gravity of the offence herein goes without saying; there was a spate of robberies conducted by the 1st to the 4th accused (Isabwa, Kimani, Mustafa and Lipapo) which resulted in the death of 4 individuals, among them the late Hon. George Muchai,” the prosecution adds.
According to the DPP, the character of the first four convicts has been wanting throughout the trial, noting that they once made a comment that they would not come back to court after an application that they had made was not allowed by the court.
“The 1st to the 4th accused persons (Isabwa, Kimani, Mustafa and Lipapo) have, in one instance after an application did not go in their favour, told the trial court that ‘hii kesi hatutakuja tena; baki huko na hiyo kesi na huyo Momanyi’,” State Counsel Momanyi states in his submissions.
In addition, the prosecution avers that the court record is replete with instances where the court had to deal with issues of indiscipline of the four while in custody, noting that they threatened the 7th accused person (Simon Wambugu Gichamba), who was acquitted.
“At Kamiti Prisons the four threatened the 7th accused person (Simon Gichamba), who was acquitted, resulting in the said accused persons being transferred to Industrial Area Remand Prisons away from the 7th accused, who remained at Kamiti Prisons for his safety,” the prosecution states.
“This conduct by the 1st to the 4th accused persons shows that for the objectives of sentencing to be met, the court should consider the death sentence,” the state counsel adds.
Counsel Momanyi also reveals that the four have not had even an iota of remorse during the pendency of their trial, backing it up with the sentiments of the 2nd accused (Raphael Kimani), who, immediately after the court found them guilty of the offences of robbery with violence, expressed his dissatisfaction with the court’s judgement.
He urged the court to protect the community by sentencing the four to death, noting that the evidence adduced in court and rightly noted by this Honourable Court in page 8 of the judgement was that “hata wewe chairman jana mlango yako ilikuwa imekwama.”
Momanyi adds that the quarrel denotes that, indeed, the four convicts were conducting similar offences the previous night when the 1st accused person (Eric Isabwa)’s door had jammed.
However, the DPP states that the 5th and the 6th convicts (Jane Wanjiru and Margaret Njeri) conducted themselves during the trial respectfully, urging the court to take into account the time the two have served in custody prior to the conviction.
The court has set the sentencing of the six for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 2:30 pm.