Man gets 40 years in jail for killing his wife over Sh200

A man was jailed for 40 years for killing his wife during in a quarrel over Sh200.

Nicholas Kimaru Kemboi, 28, was convicted for strangling Sylvia Monyani, 19, to death on February 12, 2012, at their Kapsoya home in Hamisi sub-county, Vihiga County.

He then dumped her body in a neighbour's pit latrine.

In his judgement, High Court Judge William Musyoka said the offence attracted a deterrent sentence to teach the accused and the community that crime does not pay.

The court heard that Ms Monyani had two days before her death gone back to her maternal home following a domestic scuffle.

She told her mother, Jane Khabere, that the accused had on February 9 assaulted her for spending Sh200. She stayed for two days and the accused sent his friend, Milton Nyonyi to call her for reconciliation talks. She returned to her matrimonial home.

Nyonyi told the court that he was then sent to buy vegetables for supper at around 8pm leaving the two in their rented house.

On returning, the witness said he found the door locked. The accused opened to receive the vegetables.

Nyonyi said he saw Monyani’s body lying on the floor. When he asked what happened Kimaru told him he had ‘done what his parents had told him to do’.

The witness reported to Kimaru’s parents what had happened only for the suspect's mother to tell him, “keep your mouth shut or you die like her".

Kimaru denied his involvement in the murder and accused Nyonyi of lying.

But Justice Musyoka said: “From the records, I cast no shadow of doubt on Nyonyi’s testimony. Allegation by the accused that the witness lied to the court is not supported by any evidence. Since the accused is the last person to be seen with (Monyani) while alive, he is the one who knows how she died.”  Kimaru was given 14 days to appeal.