Chilling confessions of how Nakuru gang killed four women

His presence radiated an unsettling power. Even in handcuffs, he sat calmly accompanied by two prison officers, indicating the seriousness of the offence.

Evans Kebwaro,27, was convicted and sentenced for the murder of four women in Mawanga in Nakuru, which shook the nation three years ago.

He confessed to killing Grace Wanjiku, Susan Wambui, Beatrice Akinyi, and Diana Opicho between December 21, 2021, and June 24, 2022, in Mawanga Estate, Nakuru County.

He was charged alongside Kevin Omondi, Josphat Simiyu, Julius Omondi, Isaac Kinyanjui, and Dennis Mmbolo.

The gang allegedly targeted female victims aged 20 to 38, robbing, raping, strangling, and then setting their houses on fire.

In November last year, Kebwaro was sentenced to 28 years in prison by Justice Patricia Gichohi for the murder of Opicho, aged 23, on June 24, 2022.

In the same month, Kebwaro was sentenced to 12 years for the murder of Akinyi, 21, on December 2, 2021.

In January this year, he was sentenced by Justice Samwel Mohochi to 10 years imprisonment for killing Wanjiku, 20, on June 15, 2022.

On Tuesday, Justice Julius Nangea convicted Kebwaro and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for the murder of Wambui on June 21, 2022

Who is Evans Kebwaro?

He was born in Kisii County and is the last born in a family of five. He dropped out of school after finishing his KCPE examination.

“He didn’t proceed with secondary education due to financial constraints after the demise of his mother who was the second wife in the family,” read the pre-sentencing report.

Kebwaro worked as a motorcycle rider in his rural home and would later move to Nakuru in 2018 where was employed as a shamba boy.

He also worked as a security guard but was fired after being accused of breaking into the premises he was manning.

The father of two was arrested and jailed for one year at Kisii Prison for malicious damage of property.

In the report, his assistant chief said officers from DCI Nakuru were in pursuit of him following an alleged sexual offence in Molo.

His community and family have disowned him, saying he committed crimes before relocating to Nakuru.

At Manyani where he lived in Nakuru, he was accused of theft and evicted by his landlord.

He says he met his accomplices while working on a construction site in Nakuru and lived with them in the Manyani estate.

Following a plea bargain deal with the prosecution, Kebwaro confessed to being a member of a gang and cult.

The cult, he said, offered money to them to kill young women for unknown reasons.

He claims to have been under a spell when committing the crimes. A psychiatric report conducted by Dr Wafula revealed that it was difficult to establish a rapport with Kebwaro.

His mood, the report says, was fearful and had a negative attitude.

The gang well-orchestrated their plan by meeting at Kingdom Seekers Church field before proceeding to the targeted house.

On December 2, 2021, Kebwaro and his accomplices killed Akinyi, a house help of businesswoman Ruth Kariuki. She was alone in the house.

Kariuki received a call from a neighbour at around 3 pm that her house was on fire. She tried to call Akinyi in vain, and upon arriving home, she found a crowd trying to put out the fire. A day later, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations visited the scene and discovered Akinyi’s body. 

On June 13, 2022, at around 9 am, Kebwaro and his five accomplices met at a playing field and boarded two motorcycles. Thirty minutes later, they arrived at Mawanga, where one of his accomplices directed them to proceed to a shop and engage Wanjiku, who was inside the shop.

Wanjiku was alone, her mother having left for church. She was escorted to the main house killed, raped, petrol spilled and the place set ablaze. They then boarded the motorcycle and left. They were later given Sh2,000 by the team leader.

On June 23, 2022, at 10 am, they attacked the home of Joshua Mukoya, where Opicho was staying. They gained access to the compound after the owner had left.

Opicho was found in the living room, where one of the gang members tied a wire around her neck and questioned her about the homeowner’s occupation.

They robbed the house as others sexually assaulted and killed the woman.

Kebwaro used Akinyi’s phone on January 6, 2022, and January 31, 2022, which led to his arrest and that of the other members.