Man handed 5 years for attempting to poison family

Murang’a,

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

KNA by Florence Kinyua

A 36-year-old man was on Monday sentenced to five years in prison without the option of a fine for attempting to kill his family by poisoning their food at their Kimorori Wempa home.

The accused, Philip Njoroge pleaded guilty before Kenol Law court's Senior Resident Magistrate Sheila Nyaga.

He had attempted to kill his mother, father, brother, and his son who was present during the incident.

On the fateful day, the court heard that Njoroge went to his mother’s kitchen and found her preparing the family’s evening meal of rice and potatoes.

The mother, Alice Nyambura left the potatoes boiling on the cooking pot and went to the main house outside to pick rice that was supposed to be added to the boiling potatoes. She left the suspect alone in the kitchen.

The complainant returned a few minutes later just as the accused, Njoroge, left the kitchen in a hurry, seeming disturbed.

Nyambura prepared her rice ready to add it to the boiling potatoes but on opening the pot, a strong pungent smell hit her nose lids. She suspected the food had been poisoned and immediately summoned the accused who by this time had already vanished from the compound.

The complainant called her husband and son Nyoike who verified that the food had been poisoned and promptly reported the incident to the police.

The accused was given 14 days to appeal the sentence.

Courtesy ; KNA