Ex-KCB Bank manager convicted for attempting to murder girlfriend
The law does not care about a Tanzanian proverb: "msiingilie mambo ya watuambao wameshaguzana vitovu", says magistrate.
By Adieri Mulaa
A former Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) manager, Changamwe Branch in Mombasa Hannington Muthoka Nzomo accused of attempting to murder his girlfriend three years ago, for declining to marry him, will be sentenced this Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The trial court had initially fixed the case for mention on October 12, 2026 awaiting the Probation Officer’s report of the victim impact statement, before sentencing Mr. Hannington Muthoka Nzomo for attempted murder.
However, the matter was pushed forward to Wednesday this week, October 21, 2026 after the complainant, Elizabeth Shigari Bana challenged the Probation Officer’s pre-sentence report of the accused person.
In her affidavit drawn and filed by Jackson Muchiri & Co. Advocates, the victim rejected the probation officer’s report, which recommended lenient sentence for Muthoka.
”I have considered the pre-sentence probation report concerning the accused person, Hannington Muthoka Nzomo, and wish to bring to the attention of this honorable court my objections to certain recommendations and assertions that, in my view, do not adequately reflect the circumstances of this case, the harm suffered, and the continuing impact of the offence on my life and family”, Shigari stated in her affidavit dated 14th October, 2026.
She cited her injuries, trauma and insecurity among the problems the accused has caused her after the attack.
She further submitted that the seriousness of the offence of attempted murder, the circumstances under which it was committed, the consequences of the attack, and the lasting effects on her as the victim should be given substantial consideration in determining an appropriate sentence.
In the court findings to determine the offence, the trial magistrate alluded to a proverb by some people in parts of Tanzania.
It says, “msiingilie mambo ya watuambao wameshaguzana vitovu”, which means, never get involved in the private conflicts or arguments of a married couple or lovers.
”The law, however, does not care. It will deeply penetrate into their affairs, to try and put things in order and fix the lose ends whenever one goes astray”, he said.
”That is what happened on September 23, 2023, when the accused and the complainant met in the afternoon for what was supposed to be an ordinary date for quality time for the love birds. But things took a tragic turn when a life was threatened and almost taken away”, the magistrate observed in his findings.
Consequently, the trial court has found Mr. Muthoka guilty of the offence he committed at Port Reitz in Changamwe Sub-County, Mombasa County after the prosecution provided sufficient evidence to prove its case.
”In view of the evidence adduced, I find that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt”, the trial magistrate ruled.
During the hearing, the court was told that on September 23, 2023, at Port Reitz, Muthoka stabbed Elizabeth Shigari Bana, three times in the back, and left her in critical condition.
”I convict the accused for the offence of attempted murder, contrary to Section 220 (a) of the Penal Code”, the magistrate ruled.
At the time of committing the offence, the accused was a Branch Manager of the Kenya Commercial Bank, Changamwe Branch. His services were terminated in connection with the case he faces.
He committed the offence after the woman he was cohabiting with, turned down his proposal to marry him, because he had a wife.
Muthoka, the court was told, invited the Shigari for a discussion seeking reconciliation. The two first went shopping in Nyali for cosmetic products, before settling down in a clubhouse for alcoholic drinks.
He committed the offence while dropping off the estranged girlfriend, after his effort to persuade the lady for reconciliation failed to yield fruit.
