Man sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing Machakos priest

Embu Court has sentenced one Michael Mutunga to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of killing a Catholic priest Michael Maingi in 2019.

Judge Lucy Njuguna on Thursday, said there was no justification for Mutunga's action.

Mutunga through his Lawyer Kirimi Gwantai had applied a mitigation factor which indicated his action was out of grief and anger after he was sodomised by the priest.

Judge Lucy said Mutunga should have used the available legal means to seek justice instead of taking the matter onto his own hands.

She said the conduct of the accused after committing the offence betrayed his innocence by all means after he withdrew sh400,000 from the M-pesa of the deceased, took into possession his vehicle and converted it to be his own.

"I find the circumstances under which this offence was committed called for a severe sentence. I sentence the first accused person 30 years in prison," the judge read.

"I have already taken into account the time that he has been in the custody."

On his side, Father Francis Maundu of Machakos diocese said he is happy with the conviction.

Mutunga was in the company of two other accused persons Kavivya Mwangangi and Solomon Mutava who their case will be mentioned on date November 17.

Mutunga was found guilty of killing Maingi on October 8,2019 and burying him in a shallow grave on riverbed of Mashamba seasonal river in Makima in Mbeere South in Embu.