A Kenyan-born American soldier will spend the next 26 years in a military prison for shooting and killing his wife, also a soldier, bringing a tragic end to a domestic dispute that unfolded thousands of kilometres from home.

The sentence, handed down by a US military court, closes a painful chapter for the family and the broader Kenyan community in the United States. It underscores the devastating consequences of domestic violence, a challenge that transcends borders and affects even those in the most disciplined professions.

A Confession on the Road

The fatal incident took place on February 21, 2025, at the couple's residence in Killeen, Texas. During a court-martial on December 12, Staff Sergeant John Gitau Mwangi, 43, admitted to shooting his 37-year-old wife, Sergeant Esther Gitau, multiple times following an argument.

After the shooting, Mwangi locked his wife's body in a bedroom, left the house, and called his brother while driving away to confess what he had done. That phone call prompted his brother to immediately alert law enforcement, according to court documents. Police later found Sgt. Gitau's body at the home.

Crucially, the couple's two children were found unharmed inside the house, reportedly unaware of the violence that had claimed their mother's life.

Justice in a Military Court

Mwangi, an aircraft structural repairer, pleaded guilty to unpremeditated murder. The military judge's sentence included not only the 26-year confinement but also a forfeiture of all pay and allowances, a reduction to the lowest possible rank, and a dishonorable discharge from the Army.

The case was handled within the US military's justice system, known as a General Court-Martial, which is reserved for the most serious offenses like murder. “A soldier, a mother, a sister—Sgt. Esther Gitau—was tragically taken away by the accused's reprehensible actions,” noted Lieutenant Colonel William Wicks, a prosecutor for the Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel. He expressed hope that the family could begin to heal following the proceedings.

• Victim: Sgt. Esther Gitau, 37, a Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist.
• Accused: Staff Sgt. John Gitau Mwangi, 43, an Aircraft Structural Repairer.
• Plea: Guilty to unpremeditated murder.
• Sentence: 26 years confinement, dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay.

Esther Gitau was later repatriated and buried in Nakuru County, her casket draped in the American flag in honour of her service. A US Army representative presented the folded flag to her parents in a solemn gesture.

The tragedy highlights the unique pressures faced by military families, where issues like domestic violence can be compounded by geographic isolation from traditional support networks. While data varies, studies indicate that intimate partner violence is a significant concern within military populations.

Mwangi will serve his sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The case serves as a grim reminder of the private battles that can rage behind closed doors, even for those who dedicate their lives to public service.