Nakuru Teen Convicted After Admitting to Killing 3-Year-Old Girl in Church

Nakuru County is reeling from the conviction of an 18-year-old woman for the murder of a three-year-old girl at Shalom PCEA Church in Bahati on 22 June. 

Liz Njeri Mwangi, daughter of a congregant, pleaded guilty to the crime before Justice Julius Nangea, following an investigation aided by CCTV footage. Sentencing is scheduled for 16 September. The victim, Margaret Wanjiru, had attended the Sunday service with her mother, Regina Wanjiru, and seven-year-old brother, Isaac Mwangi. Regina Wanjiru left her children in the Sunday school class while she joined the main service. 

At the service's conclusion, Isaac Mwangi emerged alone, prompting a frantic search for his sister. Margaret Wanjiru was subsequently found unconscious outside the church compound. Despite immediate first aid administered by a nurse present at the church, the toddler remained unresponsive and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kenlands Hospital. The incident was immediately reported to Kiugoini Police Station, initiating a swift investigation.

Surveillance footage from nearby residences revealed Njeri, clad in a red trench coat and grey trousers, exiting the church compound with Margaret Wanjiru around midday. Approximately 50 metres from the church gate, the footage showed Njeri checking her surroundings before strangling the child with a scarf and abandoning her on the roadside. Njeri then returned to the church alone.

A church member identified Njeri, whose suspicious behaviour after the incident had already raised concerns. A subsequent police search of her home uncovered the clothing she was seen wearing in the surveillance footage. Following her arrest and detention at Kiugoini Police Station, Njeri confessed to the murder. A post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation.