- The High Court in Ol’Kalou has sentenced Lawrence Maina Shikalo to death for the murder of eight-year-old Tabitha Wanjiru Macharia
- The prosecution has relied on CCTV footage and DNA forensic evidence linking Shikalo to the crime, despite his denial and alibi during the trial.
- The court has ruled under Section 204 of the Penal Code, bringing an eight-month wait for justice to a close, though Shikalo retains the right to appeal.
A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to death for the murder of eight-year-old Grade Two pupil Tabitha Wanjiru Macharia in Nyandarua County.
The High Court in Ol’Kalou found Lawrence Maina Shikalo guilty of murdering Tabitha on January 30, 2026, at Mbombo village in Nyandarua West Sub-County. Tabitha disappeared while walking home from school that afternoon, and after she failed to arrive home, her family and residents launched a search for her. Her body was later found under a tree on a nearby farm. A post-mortem examination established that she had been sexually assaulted and died from strangulation.
The prosecution relied on CCTV footage that showed Shikalo trailing the young girl shortly before her disappearance. Investigators also recovered forensic evidence that linked the accused to the crime, with DNA profiling matching samples recovered from the scene to Shikalo, strengthening the prosecution’s case against him.
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Shikalo denied committing the offence and presented an alibi during the trial. However, the court found the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to prove the case against him beyond reasonable doubt. The court subsequently sentenced him to death under Section 204 of the Penal Code, citing the circumstances surrounding the murder.
The sentence brings an end to an eight-month wait for justice by Tabitha’s family, although Shikalo retains the right to appeal against the conviction and sentence.
By Alphonse Mutitu
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