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Carjacker gets 25 years for armed robbery, gang-rape


A man who carjacked a motorist in Mihango, Kayole in Nairobi will serve a 25-year jail term after he was convicted of robbery with violence by a Makadara court.

Joseph Oruru Ombati was found guilty of robbing Anthony Kinuthia of his car – a Toyota Wish valued at Sh1.2 million, Sh4,600 and a mobile phone worth Sh18,000.

Ombati committed the offence on June 1, 2015, at about 5:30pm jointly with others including Arthur Mungai who is now deceased. They were armed with pistols and threatened to use violence on Kinuthia during the robbery.

Kinuthia was about to drop off a friend at her home when they were accosted by about six men with guns. They handcuffed him and forced him into the rear seat of his car.

They took his phone, wallet and belt. One of the gunmen took control of the car and drove towards Kangundo Road. While proceeding towards Kangundo Road, Ombati ordered him to give his M-Pesa pin.

Kinuthia and the friend were later left with the four of the gunmen as Ombati drove off with the gangster who had taken control of the car.

Raging river

The two were led to a bushy area where Kinuthia was ordered to stand in the middle of a raging river as his friend was led several metres away, where she was also robbed of her mobile phone worth Sh32,000, Sh780 before she was gang-raped by two men.

Kinuthia overheard the men negotiating for his car’s price while he was being forced to remain in the sewer-laced river.

They were later released and ordered to walk towards a certain direction. After walking for some while, they sought help to call the police and reported the matter.

State counsel Jackie Kisoo had proposed an 80-year jail-term for Ombati.

“The accused must take full responsibility of his actions and the complainant needs to feel justice has been done,” Kisoo had submitted.

Nyaga jailed him for 25 years starting from June 10, 2015, when he was put in custody.

“In my opinion, therefore, the accused person needs to be sentenced for retribution. Additionally, this also needs to go out as a warning to his accomplices and generally other members of the public who engage in such unlawful activities,” Nyaga said.

In his defence, Ombati claimed he had learnt his lesson, and pleaded for leniency, claiming that he was not found with any weapon, and his victim – Kinuthia was not injured.

He said he was not present during the rape of Kinuthia’s friend.