Wife gets 6 years in jail for fatally stabbing husband over Sh1,000 as children witnessed

A Nairobi court has sentenced a woman to six years in jail after fatally stabbing her husband during a domestic dispute over Sh1,000, an incident witnessed by their two young children.

The accused, Zainab Kwamboka, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter under a plea agreement recorded on 14th July 2025.

The court noted that she and the deceased, James Mwangi Mugo, were cohabiting as man and wife in the shanties in Nairobi, where they were raising two children.

According to court records, the dispute occurred on 10th March 2024, when Mugo arrived home at about 5:00 pm and fed the children.

Kwamboka, who returned home around 10:00 pm, was intoxicated.

An argument erupted over Sh1,000, which Mugo had left for the purchase of school books, but which Kwamboka had allegedly spent on alcohol.

The confrontation escalated tragically.

“A neighbor was woken up by the children’s screams at around 1 am, shouting “Mama wacha kuua Baba”. He heard the accused tell the deceased, “Did I not tell you?” followed by screams from the deceased that he was being killed: “Nauwawa! Nauwawa!” the judgment reads.

The neighbour then saw Mugo running past his door, holding his neck, before collapsing face down in the corridor with blood oozing from the wound.

Local residents attempted to intervene and chased Kwamboka toward a nearby police post, but she was rescued by officers and taken to Mbagathi Hospital for treatment.

The deceased’s body was taken to the City Mortuary.

An autopsy conducted confirmed that the cause of death was “excess haemorrhage from a vascular injury due to a single stab wound,” a finding that aligned with the facts admitted by Kwamboka during the trial.

During sentencing, the prosecution highlighted the severity and cruelty of the act, particularly noting that it occurred in the presence of the couple’s young children.

The victim’s family, although not present in court, submitted a statement through a probation officer.

The family described immense loss, noting that Mugo was the firstborn and had been a critical financial supporter.

“They remain bitter and have no intention to reconcile with the accused,” court records further show.

Kwamboka’s defence counsel asked the court to consider her cooperation with the investigation, her remorse, and the fact that she was the primary caregiver for their two children.

He urged the court for leniency, arguing that a custodial sentence should allow her an opportunity for rehabilitation and further introspection.

The court, presided over by Justice Kanyi Kimondo, acknowledged that Kwamboka was a first-time offender but noted the aggravating circumstances of the case.

“I have taken into account that the accused is a first offender. But she stabbed the deceased on the neck, severing major blood vessels. The fact that she deployed a sharp object on the deceased’s neck, causing his death a few minutes later, is an aggravating factor,” Justice Kimondo observed.

The judge emphasised that the act was both vicious and unnecessary, but also weighed the mitigating factors presented by the defence.

The court noted that manslaughter is a serious offence that typically attracts a life sentence, but considered the accused’s cooperation, remorse, and family responsibilities in reducing the sentence.

"It will also afford the accused an opportunity to further introspect and get additional counselling," he said.

Ultimately, the judge sentenced Kwamboka to six years in prison, with the sentence backdated to March 10, 2024, the date of her arrest and initial custody.

The judgment also confirmed that Kwamboka has the right to appeal against the sentence only within 14 days, in accordance with the Court of Appeal rules.

A copy of the proceedings and the sentence was ordered to be provided to her immediately.