Teenager Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Killing Three-Year-Old at Nakuru Church

An 18-year-old student has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of a three-year-old girl at a Nakuru church earlier this year. 

The sentence, handed down on 18 December, follows the teenager’s guilty plea to the crime. Lizzy Njeri Mwangi, a Form Four student at Upperhill Secondary School, admitted to strangling Margaret Wanjiru during a church service at Shalom PCEA Church in Bahati on 22 June. 

According to police, Njeri lured the child away from the congregation before attacking her in a secluded area. CCTV footage from a nearby homestead provided crucial evidence leading to Njeri's arrest.

Church members, who recognised Njeri as the daughter of a congregant, directed officers to her home, where she was found acting as though nothing had occurred. A search recovered clothing linked to the crime. Njeri was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty, prompting the court to order a pre-sentencing report.

The report revealed that Njeri had described experiencing nightmares and feeling an uncontrollable urge to kill. Despite expressing remorse and claiming she did not understand her actions, she had shown no prior signs of mental illness. Her family had initiated reconciliation efforts with the victim's relatives, and probation officers recommended a non-custodial sentence, citing her status as a first-time offender.

However, the court rejected this recommendation, citing the severity of the crime. The prosecution argued that a custodial sentence was necessary, as the teenager remained a potential danger to society.