Nyeri: A man who defiled, murdered, and buried a seven-year-old girl in his house in Witemere slums in Nyeri county in May 2025, has been sentenced to death. The High Court in Nyeri has ruled that although the convict, Nicholas Julius Macharia, had pleaded guilty to the charge of murder, the plea was not useful for the case against him.
According to Kenya News Agency, Justice Kizito Magare observed that the defilement and subsequent murder of the Grade One learner, Tamara Blessing Kabura, had been planned, premeditated, and carried out meticulously by Macharia. Similarly, Justice Kizito noted that despite Macharia issuing an apology to the victim’s family, his demeanour during the testimony by the victim’s mother, Susan Wanjiru, exhibited a disturbing lack of empathy and narcissistic tendencies, as he could be seen smiling and staring into the air.
The Judge explained that although Macharia had pleaded for leniency, the manner in which he executed the offence suggested a troubling readiness to repeat simila
r actions if afforded the opportunity, further arguing that the gravity of the offence left the court with no choice but to prescribe the most severe punishment in accordance with the law. The judge referred to the guidelines and noted that Macharia’s actions fell into most categories warranting a severe sentence.
The seven-year-old girl went missing on May 24, 2025, from the Nyeri open-air market, where her mother operates as a trader. After a two-day search, a tip-off from a trader and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage led to Macharia’s arrest. He then led detectives to his house, where they discovered the victim’s lifeless body buried under his bed.
Justice Kizito highlighted that the convict had breached the minor’s trust and subjected her to inhumane treatment. He described the crime as “macabre in the most macabre sense” and noted that the sexual violence meted out was disproportionate to the minor’s age. He further criticized Macharia’s attempt to blame the devil for the offence, stating that
the law does not recognize supernatural powers as a valid excuse.
While sentencing Macharia to death, Justice Kizito also noted the rise of femicide in the country and emphasized that the sentence would serve as a deterrent measure. He ruled that a death warrant shall be transmitted to the competent authority for signing and carrying out the sentence after a 30-day stay of execution. The decision leaves the Director of Public Prosecution to determine whether or not to charge Macharia with defilement, an offence carrying a life sentence. The convict now has 14 days to appeal the court’s decision.
