A robbery with violence convict has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for robbing a supermarket and killing a watchman.

Harun Ndirangu was convicted of robbing Elizabeth Njoroge and Walter Monari on September 5, 2017, at Visionmart Supermarket in Nakuru County. He allegedly used actual force on Monari, who succumbed to gunshot injuries.

Nakuru Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet observed that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

When asked for mitigation, Ndirangu boldly told the magistrate that he wasn’t a thief. “I am not a thief, I need a copy of the judgment,” Ndirangu said.

Daniel Maina, the then supermarket manager, said the robbery took place within 15 minutes.

“I was alerted by a staff member that someone had entered the M-Pesa section. I proceeded to check with the watchman at the premises, after which he was confronted by an individual who pointed a gun at him,” he said.

The accused and his two accomplices allegedly had a short gun.

 Maina allegedly witnessed the accused pull Monari aside, then shot him, upon seeing that he decided to rush to get help from traffic officers stationed in the Free Area.

 His efforts hit the rocks as the officers weren’t there at the moment, forcing him to return only to find Ndirangu manning the supermarket entrance while his accomplices were inside.

Monari was taken to Mediheal Hospital but succumbed. The incident was reported, and police retrieved CCTV footage and spent cartridges.  

He was called to the police station for an identification parade.

Njoroge testified that on the fateful date, while operating M-Pesa, three armed men threatened her.

“Was ordered to surrender the cash float of Sh11,521 and my handbag valued at Sh800, the accused had a gun, had to comply with his demands,” she said.

She would later report the incident to the police and identify the accused, claiming the accused’s appearance had accrued during the commission of the offence.

The investigating officer, Peter Kalongo, testified that he was part of the team that led the operation to apprehend Ndirangu and his co-accomplices.

Acting on intelligence, Ndirangu and his accomplices were arrested with pistols and were taken for forensic examination, which matched the cartridges.