Naftali Kinuthia, the individual responsible for the tragic death of Moi University medical student Ivy Wangechi, has been handed a 40-year sentence by an Eldoret Court. The verdict, delivered by Justice Stephen Githinji, unequivocally affirmed the prosecution’s successful demonstration of Kinuthia’s culpability in Ivy Wangeci’s demise.
During the sentencing, Justice Githinji dismissed the defense’s claim that Ivy had provoked Kinuthia and terminated their relationship to pursue another romantic interest. The presiding justice firmly asserted the court’s conviction in the prosecution’s case, dispelling any doubts surrounding Kinuthia’s role in the incident that occurred four years ago.
The court proceedings revealed that Kinuthia had traveled from Nairobi to Eldoret in April 2019, carrying out a revenge mission against Ivy. Armed with an axe, he struck Ivy Wangeshi twice on the head. Kinuthia justified his actions by citing his distress over witnessing Ivy, his long-time friend and intimate partner, embracing another man on her birthday. He argued that he had traveled from Nairobi to Eldoret to celebrate her birthday and had even financed the occasion with Sh14,000.
Kinuthia claimed that he purchased the axe for self-defense, asserting that he consistently kept it in his car with registration number KCB 836B.
Despite pleas from the victim’s and the state’s lawyers for the death penalty, Justice Githinji rejected the notion of a “tooth for a tooth” in the judicial system. Kinuthia had earlier sought a non-custodial sentence, expressing a desire for a second chance at life. In mitigation, his lawyer, Wakabi, passionately implored the court for leniency before Justice Githinji delivered the final verdict.
