Meru High Court Hands Down Death Sentence to Two Men Following Violent 2024 Robbery of Local Merchant

Two men in Meru County receive the death sentence for the violent 2024 robbery of Janice Gacheri. Read about the ODPP's successful prosecution in Maua.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 8:13 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

A Decisive Judicial Conclusion to a Violent Assault

The legal proceedings surrounding a brutal 2024 robbery in Meru County reached a definitive end as the High Court delivered a maximum sentence against two local men. According to Amos Khaemba, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed on Wednesday, March 18, that Douglas Muriithi and Anthony Mugendi were sentenced to death for their roles in a violent encounter in Maua Location. The court’s decision underscores a zero-tolerance approach to aggravated robbery, particularly when the perpetrators employ life-threatening force against defenseless citizens.

The Midnight Ambush in Igembe South

The details of the crime, which occurred on the night of September 6, 2024, describe a coordinated and armed assault against a local woman identified as Janice Gacheri. According to the ODPP, the two attackers accosted the victim at approximately 11:40 p.m., utilizing an array of dangerous implements including metal rods, timber frames, and pangas. This level of preparation and the specific choice of weapons played a critical role in the court’s determination that the offense met the threshold for "robbery with violence" under the Kenyan Penal Code.

Quantifying the Loss and Physical Trauma

While the monetary value of the stolen goods was placed at KSh 19,600, the severity of the sentencing was driven by the violent nature of the theft rather than the market price of the items. The stolen inventory included 87 kilograms of sugar and 17 kilograms of onions, alongside KSh 5,700 in cash. Crucially, the prosecution established that the victim sustained physical injuries during the confrontation, a factor that the court noted as an aggravating circumstance that necessitated the most severe penalty available under the law.