Evans Michori Kebwaro
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Evans Kebwaro has received multiple prison sentences, with the longest term being 28 years, following his confession to participating in a series of brutal murders targeting women in Nakuru's Bahati area.
In an effort to receive reduced charges, he cooperated with law enforcement by entering a guilty plea to manslaughter and assisting in the apprehension of his accomplices. During his Wednesday court appearance, Kebwaro provided a detailed account of the events that transpired on June 24, 2022. The day began with a morning briefing at Nakuru South Cemetery, where Kebwaro and his five associates gathered to discuss their planned robbery in the Mawanga area. Following their leader's instructions regarding a target home in the All Nations area, the group departed on two motorcycles at 10 a.m. to rendezvous with an advance team.
Upon receiving a signal from their lookout at the residence, the gang encountered 23-year-old Diana Opicho, who had recently returned from working in Qatar. Opicho, an orphan, was staying at the home of her benefactor, Bishop Jotham Opicho of All Nations Church. As she sat alone, six men, including Kebwaro, entered through the rear entrance. The assailants immediately subdued her, with one member wrapping a wire around her neck to force information about valuable items. Despite searching the homeowner's room by breaking through the ceiling, they found nothing of significance, though Kebwaro managed to collect some electronic items including a television and speaker system.
The situation took a horrific turn when Opicho was forcibly taken to her room, where she endured strangulation and gang rape. Kebwaro admitted that he participated in the assault despite noticing she was bleeding from her mouth and had vomited. The attack ended abruptly when the gang heard someone approaching, causing them to flee through the kitchen. Joshua Mukoya later discovered the crime scene, finding the house ransacked and Opicho's partially clothed body, promptly alerting authorities. The gang reassembled at Nakuru South Cemetery at 5 p.m., where their leader expressed disappointment over the "failed" operation before dismissing the group. In her ruling, Justice Patricia Gichohi emphasized the extreme brutality of the crime, noting that Opicho had been deliberately subjected to a painful death.
The judge determined that Kebwaro's actions warranted a 28-year prison term and stressed the importance of his rehabilitation away from society. The sentence followed another recent 12-year prison term Kebwaro received for the murder of Beatrice Akinyi, a 20-year-old domestic worker killed on December 2, 2021. His cooperation with authorities, facilitated through a plea bargain agreement, proved instrumental in advancing the investigation and led to the arrest of five accomplices: Kevin Otieno, Josphat Juma, Julius Omondi, Dennis Mmbolo, and Isaac Nganga. The group faces charges for the murders of multiple victims, including Grace Wanjiru, Susan Wambui, Diana Opicho, and Beatrice Akinyi.
A pre-sentencing report revealed Kebwaro's membership in a sophisticated criminal organization that conducted covert operations involving rape and armed robbery. Following his arrest in Kisii County, where he had sought refuge, Kebwaro initially denied the charges in August 2022 but later accepted a plea bargain. He currently awaits sentencing for two additional murder cases.