A Ugandan herbalist has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of a Kenyan nurse who was a senior official with the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN). The sentencing was delivered by the High Court in Eldoret after finding the 52-year-old man, Mawanda Asuma, guilty of murdering Ferdinand Ongeri, the deputy chairman of the KNUN Kisumu branch.
Ongeri, who worked at the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) dispensary in Kisumu County, was reported missing in late July 2019. His decomposed body was later discovered in Kimondi forest near Kapsabet town in Nandi County. The body, found by local herders, bore signs of torture and violence, including deep stomach wounds and cuts inside the mouth.
The court established that the murder took place between July 24 and July 27, 2019. Asuma had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, maintaining that Ongeri was not only his patient but also a close friend. He claimed that he had been treating Ongeri for obesity-related complications using herbal remedies and insisted that he had no role in his death. However, the prosecution presented evidence proving Asuma’s involvement, convincing the court beyond reasonable doubt.
The court denied Asuma bail early in the trial after it was determined he posed a flight risk due to his extensive movement across East African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, where he operated his herbal business.
The tragic death of Ongeri came shortly after he had successfully negotiated a promotion for nurses with Kisumu County health officials. His abrupt disappearance raised immediate concern among colleagues and family members. His widow, Brossy Makimtingwa Ongeri, a nurse and Ugandan national, testified about her last attempts to reach her husband via phone, which went unanswered. She later received the heartbreaking news of his death.
Isabela Ongeri, the nurse’s mother and a retired healthcare worker herself, also shared her final conversation with her son. She recounted how he had promised to visit her the following week—plans that never came to fruition.
The presiding judge emphasized the brutality of the murder, noting the deliberate nature of the crime and the injuries inflicted on the victim. The judge acknowledged the pain of the family and the loss suffered by the health profession in the region. Asuma’s sentence of 25 years reflects the severity of the crime and serves as a warning against acts of violence disguised under the pretense of traditional healing practices.
