A Mombasa court has convicted a banker of attempted murder after he stabbed his former lover three times, leaving a knife blade lodged in her back.
Hannington Muthoka was found guilty of attempting to unlawfully cause the death of Elizabeth Shigari Bana on September 25, 2023, at Port Reitz in Changamwe, Mombasa County.
Muthoka had denied the charge under Section 220(a) of the Penal Code, but Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. David O. Odhiambo found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecution through Principal Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo called 10 witnesses during the trial.
Hon. Odhiambo heard that Ms. Bana, a teacher at Changamwe Secondary School, had been romantically involved with Muthoka, whom she met while working at the KCB Changamwe branch.
On September 25, 2023, Muthoka picked her up after asking to meet and discuss their relationship before driving towards Nyali for shopping.
They bought beauty products before proceeding to a club in Bamburi, where they had food and drinks as Muthoka reminded her of their good times.
He sought to rekindle their relationship, but Ms. Bana declined. When she later asked to be dropped home in Mikindani, Muthoka instead drove towards Changamwe.
He took her to a secluded area in Bahati, Port Reitz, where he demanded sex. Ms. Bana refused, got out of the vehicle, and ran away screaming.
Muthoka chased her and caught up with her before stabbing her three times in the back.
Two men who were nearby testified that they saw the pair struggling before Muthoka entered his vehicle and sped away.
They found Ms. Bana bleeding, with a knife lodged in her back. She told them that her former boyfriend had stabbed her.
The two men rushed her to Port Reitz Hospital before she was referred to Aga Khan Hospital, where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and underwent emergency surgery to remove the knife.
A clinical officer classified her injuries as maim, while evidence showed the knife had penetrated her left lung, causing it to collapse. A surgeon also confirmed the blade’s location.
Forensic analysis found human blood on the knife, grass and clothes, with DNA matching Ms. Bana’s buccal swab.
In his sworn defence, Muthoka claimed they remained lovers until the incident and had travelled to Dubai together. He produced photographs, visas, M-Pesa receipts and WhatsApp messages.
He claimed Ms. Bana produced a knife from her shopping bag and stabbed herself during a struggle as he attempted to disarm her.
Rejecting the defence, Hon. Odhiambo said the evidence established that Muthoka was responsible for the attack.
The magistrate said the nature and severity of Ms. Bana’s injuries demonstrated an intention to take away her life.
Muthoka was convicted under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The court will mention the matter on October 12, 2026, for mitigation, prosecution sentencing submissions, and victim impact statement from the complainant.