Naftali Kinuthia Sentenced to 40 Years for Ivy Wangechi Murder

Naftali Kinuthia, accused of murdering his estranged lover Ivy Wangechi outside Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in 2019, has received a 40-year prison sentence.

The Eldoret High Court concluded the four-year murder trial on Thursday with the sentencing.

Justice Stephen Githinji, in delivering the verdict, acknowledged the suspect’s plea but deemed the sentence appropriate for the grave nature of the crime for which he was convicted.

Through his attorney, Kinuthia expressed remorse for the crime and asserted that he had undergone a transformation during his four-year detention.

The 33-year-old was apprehended for assaulting his former partner with an axe outside the university.

In court, he claimed that despite his extensive financial support for Wangeci, she rejected him due to his height, publicly embraced another man, and profited from him while having no intention of continuing their relationship.

Kinuthia testified that he continued to provide financial assistance to Wangeci even after she distanced herself from him.

He mentioned spending over Ksh. 100,000 on her and was in the process of recovering the funds from her parents upon realizing that their relationship was not progressing.

Kinuthia informed Justice Stephen Githinji that he had sent Ksh. 7,000 for Wangeci’s birthday but was not invited to the celebration.

Despite this, he claimed not to be offended, citing years of funding similar events throughout their relationship.