In a shocking case heard at the Kithimani Court, a man has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of violently robbing the mother of former Yatta Member of Parliament Charles Kilonzo. The judgment was delivered on Thursday, November 13, 2025, marking the end of a gruesome case that had shaken the Machakos community.
According to court records, the incident occurred on December 8, 2023, in the Ndarani area of Yatta Sub-County. The accused reportedly attacked the victim with a panga, inflicting serious head injuries, and stole her mobile phone valued at Ksh15,000 along with an undisclosed amount of cash. He also tied her up with ropes and abandoned her in the house, leaving her in a critical condition before she was eventually rescued.
The court described the attack as “vicious and heartless,” noting that it left Kilonzo’s mother unable to speak. Under Section 296(2) of the Penal Code, which governs robbery with violence in Kenya, the minimum punishment for such crimes is a death sentence.
Charles Kilonzo, who has had a long political career, first served as Yatta MP following his election in 2002 and was re-elected in 2007 on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. He lost his seat in 2013 to Francis Mwangangi but reclaimed it in 2017 as an independent candidate. Ahead of the 2022 elections, Kilonzo opted not to defend his seat, instead intending to vie for the Machakos Senatorial seat, a move that did not materialize.
In 2024, Kilonzo was also in the news after one of his residential properties in Northwood Villas, Karen, Nairobi, was put up for auction. The property is a five-bedroom townhouse with servants’ quarters, freehold title deed, and essential amenities like water and electricity.
The Kithimani Court’s verdict sends a strong message against violent crime, reinforcing the legal consequences of robbery with extreme violence in Kenya.
