The wheels of justice turn slowly, but for Kirinyaga Nominated MCA Lucy Njeri Mwaniki, every rotation is a fresh wound. In a courtroom filled with heavy silence, the grieving mother finally came face-to-face with Ken Kimathi, the man accused of luring her daughter, Seth Nyakio, to her death in a Thika apartment last year.

Seth Nyakio, a vibrant Zetech University student, was found strangled in what police describe as a "crime of passion" turned deadly. Her death sparked nationwide protests against femicide, but for her mother, the political has always been intensely personal. "I looked into his eyes expecting to see remorse," Njeri told reporters outside the Thika Law Courts, her voice trembling. "Instead, I saw nothing. Just a cold blankness."

The Courtroom Drama

Kimathi, who had been on the run for months before his capture in December 2025, pleaded not guilty to murder charges. The prosecution is building a case based on CCTV footage and forensic evidence placing him at the scene.

• A Mother's Vow: Despite the trauma, Njeri has vowed to attend every hearing. "He silenced my daughter, but he cannot silence me. I will be the constant reminder of what he took from this world," she declared.
• Femicide Crisis: Rights groups camping outside the court chanted "Stop Killing Us," highlighting that Nyakio’s case is one of 40 reported femicide cases in the region in the last year alone.

As the case proceeds to a full hearing in March, the Kirinyaga MCA is channeling her grief into a legislative push for stricter bail terms for murder suspects, ensuring her daughter’s legacy saves others.