Man sentenced to death over murder of seven-year-old girl in Nyeri

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The High Court in Nyeri sentenced a man to death for the murder of a seven-year-old girl whose body he buried inside his house before continuing to live there.

Justice Kizito Magare handed down the sentence on Thursday to Nicholas Julius Macharia, describing the offence as one marked by a profound disregard for human life and dignity.

Macharia had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering TBK, on May 24, 2025, in the Witemere area of Nyeri Township, but later changed his plea to guilty.

The child was known to him through her family.

In his confession, Macharia attempted to attribute his actions to the devil, a claim the court rejected.

“The court, however, is unable to discern any role played by the devil in the commission of the offence,” Justice Magare ruled.

“Criminal responsibility rests with the offender. In the circumstances of this case, the responsibility lies squarely and entirely with the convict. The devil is innocent in that respect, as he was not involved.”

The court heard that after killing the child, Macharia buried her body inside his home and continued residing there, fully aware of what he had done.

The judge said this conduct aggravated the gravity of the offence, describing the house as having been turned into “a place of death and a cemetery.”

Evidence presented included CCTV footage showing the convict’s movements with the deceased, a confession statement and forensic analysis from the Government Chemist.

A postmortem report detailed multiple injuries, including trauma to the face and eyes, injuries to the mouth and severe genital injuries accompanied by significant hemorrhage.

The court also considered a victim impact statement from the child’s mother, who spoke of the profound emotional trauma suffered by her family and the wider community.

Despite pleading guilty, Macharia showed no remorse, the judge said.

“The convict does not deserve mercy, though he pleaded guilty. The convict was ruthless, and calling him a beast is an understatement,” Justice Magare said.

He added that the convict’s demeanor and recorded confession revealed a disturbing disposition and suggested a troubling readiness to repeat similar acts if given the opportunity.

Macharia was sentenced to death in accordance with the law.

The court directed that a death warrant be transmitted to the competent authority for execution and informed him that he has 14 days to file an appeal.