A court in Kithimani has sentenced a man to death after finding him guilty of violently robbing the mother of former Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, November 13.
According to court proceedings, the accused attacked the elderly woman on December 8, 2023, at her home in Ndarani, Yatta Sub-County, Machakos.
He reportedly stole her mobile phone worth sh15,000, an undisclosed amount of cash, and assaulted her with a panga, leaving her with deep head injuries.
The court heard that the man tied the victim with ropes before fleeing the scene, leaving her helpless until she was later rescued.
The vicious assault was so severe that it left Kilonzo’s mother unable to speak.
In its judgment, the court noted that the nature of the crime was exceptionally cruel, warranting the maximum penalty under Section 296(2) of the Penal Code (Cap. 63, Laws of Kenya), which prescribes death for robbery with violence though in some instances, life imprisonment or lengthy jail terms may apply.
Charles Kilonzo, who first entered Parliament in 2002, was re-elected in 2007 under the ODM ticket before being succeeded in 2013 by Francis Mwangangi, now Machakos Deputy Governor.
Kilonzo reclaimed the Yatta seat as an independent candidate in 2017, a victory later upheld by the courts.
Ahead of the 2022 General Election, Kilonzo opted not to defend his parliamentary seat, declaring instead his ambition to run for Machakos Senator a bid that did not materialize.
Since then, Kilonzo has largely stayed out of the political limelight.
However, in 2024, he made headlines after one of his prime properties in Karen’s Northwood Villas was listed for auction.
The property, located off Miotoni Lane about 500 meters west of West Nairobi School, is described as a five-bedroom ensuite townhouse with a servants’ quarter, held under a freehold title and fully connected to essential utilities such as water and electricity.
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