Josphat Njoroge and Hilda Njau before Kerugoya Court. They were sentenced to death over robbery with violence. (Munene Kamau, Standard)

Three people including a woman have been sentenced to death by a Kerugoya court for robbery with violence.

The three had denied robbing with violence a Kerugoya town Taxi driver Ibrahim Mwangi of Sh3,300 in cash.

Josphat Njoroge, Hilda Njau and Mikeson Mutinda in their mid-30s had also denied a second count of attempted robbery with violence.

They had been charged that on October 5, 2016 at Kabendoso area within the outskirts of Kerugoya town, while armed with dangerous weapons, they robbed Mwangi of Sh3,300 in cash while using actual violence on him.

A second count stated that on the same date and place while armed with knives they attempted to rob the said Mwangi of his motor vehicle a Toyota Fielder valued at Sh900,000 while using actual violence on him.

In his evidence, Mwangi told court how on the material day, Njoroge and Hilda approached him at the taxi parking bay within Kerugoya town and asked to be dropped at Kabendoso area where he wanted to view land which was on sale.

After settling on taxi charges the two boarded and headed to the scene. On approaching the said land, they asked him to stop as they had spotted the landowner.

“But on stopping two other men boarded the vehicle after which I immediately developed a hunch that I was in serious trouble,’’ he told the court.

Mwangi recalled how Njoroge and Mutinda grabbed him, tied a rope around his neck and started to strangle him as Njau pointed him with a knife.

The witness further told the court how Njoroge and Mutinda tried to push him from the steering wheel with the rope still around his neck.

“Luckily an oncoming tractor driver sensed trouble and blocked the road as I screamed for help at the top of my voice,” he testified earlier on.

The ensuing commotion attracted boda boda operators and members of the public who arrested Njoroge and Njau as Mutinda fled and took cover inside a chicken pen.

After a search, Mutinda was found halfway inside the pen upon which he was pulled out but police arrived on time and saved the three from lynching.

Area Senior Resident Magistrate Eric Wambo said after corroborative evidence was adduced by the various witnesses to prove the case, there was only death sentence for such an offence.

Rose Makworo appeared for Mutinda while the rest were unrepresented as Miriam Mwaura led the prosecution.

“Since you have declined to show any iota of remorse even after being accorded the opportunity, I hereby sentence you to death as prescribed by the law and accord you 14 days within which to appeal,” Wambo ordered.