A woman charged with involvement in the murder of Dutch citizen Herman Rouwenhorst has appealed to the court for mercy, expressing regret for her actions.
Mary Ambani Nekesa, who admitted to being involved in planning the murder, told Judge Ann Ong’injo that she regrets her actions and pleaded for leniency to be able to care for her children.
“I regret being involved in this act; I have learned from my mistakes. I ask this court to show me mercy by giving me the lowest possible sentence,” she said through her lawyer.
She told the court that she is a mother of two children and would prefer to receive a lenient sentence that would allow her to care for them.
The suspect, who turned into a prosecution witness, stated that she separated from the father of her children during the 2021 incident, leaving her with the responsibility of raising the children alone.
She claimed that since she separated from her husband, he has not been involved in taking care of their children in any way.
“My children have been staying with their aunt, who is also a widow, since I was arrested in 2021. I ask the court to have mercy on me for the sake of my children,” she said.
The woman also stated that she has learned valuable skills during the three years she has been in prison, which will help her cope with life outside prison walls.
Nekesa was charged alongside the widow of Mr. Rouwenhorst, Riziki Ali Cherono, and Timothy Omondi Ngowe, also known as Tony Ochieng’ alias Mohamed Khalid, for the murder of the Dutchman and security guard Evans Pole Bokoro.
They are alleged to have committed the crimes on June 4, 2021.
However, Nekesa entered into plea bargain agreements with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and is now a prosecution witness.
Under these agreements, the government reduced the charges against her and charged her with manslaughter instead of murder.
Nekesa admitted to two counts of manslaughter. The court was told that the suspect unlawfully killed Rouwenhorst and Bokoro.
According to court records, Nekesa was used to facilitate the entry of criminals into Roco Apartments, where Mr. Rouwenhorst lived, in the Shanzu area, late at night.
Court records show that on the night of June 3, Nekesa was taken to an empty room in the building.
It is alleged that she helped Mr. Omondi enter the deceased’s compound before carrying out the murders late at night.
“The suspect informed Mr. Bokoro that Mr. Omondi was his guest. This ensured that the man entered the compound without being suspected of having malicious intent,” said Prosecutor Bernard Ngiri.
Further court records show that Nekesa introduced Cherono to Omondi before the incident.
Cherono allegedly confided in her friend Nekesa about her intention to kill her husband, Rouwenhorst.
Omondi was chosen to carry out the murders. Nekesa is awaiting sentencing.
