Ex-cargo company manager gets 30 years for killing KDF officer

Summary

• A former Dutch cargo company manager at Nairobi’s airport, Richard Mwangi Mugo, has begun serving a 30-year prison term for the murder of a Kenya Defence Forces officer in 2018. Mugo, convicted of transferring money from the victim’s phone and inflicting severe violence, was sentenced by Milimani High Court Judge Daniel Ogembo. The judge dismissed Mugo’s alibi, citing phone signals placing him at the crime scene.

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A 58-year-old former manager of a Dutch cargo company based at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has commenced a 30-year prison term for the murder of a 55-year-old Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer four years ago. Richard Mwangi Mugo, convicted by Milimani High Court Judge Daniel Ogembo, committed the crime on the Eastern Bypass in Njiru during the early hours of December 3, 2018.

Prior to his legal troubles, Mugo held a senior operations manager position at Swiss Port Kenya Limited, the Dutch cargo company located at JKIA.

Mugo, a father of three, not only took the life of the KDF officer, John Machimbo Litala, but also transferred Sh10,700 from the victim’s mobile phone to his own. The money was then sent to Dennis Karima Gachoka’s number.

Judge Ogembo highlighted that the phone signals of both Mugo and the deceased placed them at the crime scene, making it implausible for Mugo not to be the perpetrator. Mugo’s claim of being robbed on the night of the murder was dismissed by the judge, who noted the absence of any police report or confirmation of his alibi.

The judge stated that the assailants inflicted severe violence and pain on the victim to force him to reveal his M-Pesa pin before transferring the money. The deceased, a former Warrant Officer 1 posted to the Department of Defence (DoD), suffered a painful death with injuries to his hands and elbows, rendering him immobilized. His body was discovered with hands and legs tied, surrounded by his personal belongings.

Justice Ogembo emphasized the intention to kill in Mugo’s actions, leading to the conviction. Mugo, who denied the charges, was given 14 days to appeal but was denied a non-custodial sentence as the judge deemed the crime a brutal ending of an innocent life.