Court finds Murang’a woman guilty of murdering co-wife’s daughter

From left: Keneth Mureithi, Geoffrey Njuguna, Peris Bundi and Elenah Nyambura at the Milimani Law Courts where they were found guilty of the murder of eight-year-old Sheila Wanjiku. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Last month, a woman who murdered her co-wife’s child to win her husband back, was found guilty of murder.

Justice Fred Ochieng found Elena Nyambura, her 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 kill Wanjiku, the daughter of her former employee turned second wife to her husband, Peter Kamau. This she did this in order to win Kamau's heart back.

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

She 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 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 Justice Ochieng.

He added, “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 the mother, Teresa Mugure, helplessly watched.

Mugure also ended up with an injury as she was also stabbed in 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 they were not on good terms.