Woman convicted of murdering co-wife's child to win Kenyan husband back

From left: Kenneth Mureithi, Geoffrey Njuguna, Peris Njeri and Elena Nyambura at the Milimani Law Courts yesterday, where they were found guilty of murdering Sheila Wanjiku in 2009. [PHOTO: FIDELIS KABUNYI/STANDARD]

A woman who murdered her co-wife's child in order to win her husband back was yesterday found guilty of murder.

Justice Fred Ochieng found Elena Nyambura, her best friend Peris Njeri, her brother Geoffrey Njuguna and his friend Kenneth Mureithi responsible for the murder of Sheila Wanjiku, 8.

The murder revolves around a love triangle, in which Nyambura decided to eliminate Wanjiku, a daughter of her former employee turned second wife to her husband Peter Kamau, in order to win his heart back.

Nyambura's contention was that Kamau was closer to Eunice Nyawira and her son than he was to her (Nyambura's) son and that he had deserted her.

GIRL STABBED

Nyambura confessed to police that she wanted her man back and the only way to do it was to eliminate the 'only barrier' between them.  This she executed on August 2, 2009 in broad daylight with the help of her best friend, her brother and a neighbour from her village in Murang'a.

"All the four accused acted in concert to scheme the series of events. Therefore, it would not matter at all that they did not each stab the deceased. Each played a role which contributed to the success of the heinous elimination of an innocent baby," ruled Ochieng, adding: "I find each and every one of the four accused persons guilty of the murder. They are hereby convicted of the offence."

The young girl, who was still in primary school, was stabbed 10 times in her neck while their house help; Teresa Mugure, helplessly watched.

The house help also ended up a casualty as she was also stabbed on her right hand.

Nyambura first shared the master plan with her brother, Njuguna. She then roped Njeri into the scheme.

Her brother was to find the killers and Njeri's role was to point out the house and also pay the killers. The payment was Sh80 000.

Njuguna had also recruited one more friend, a Mr Anderson, but he escaped from the police dragnet and has been missing to date.

According to Kamau, the man at the centre of the love triangle, his two women used to work at a bakery and supermarket that he had invested in. He said he however did not know that they were not in good terms.

The four will be sentenced on Tuesday next week.