Greed and a long-running land dispute in Mukane Village, Butula Sub-County, Busia County, have left a young man serving a 25-year prison sentence after he strangled a 96-year-old widow to death with his bare hands.
Celestine* was robbed of her final years by Robert Maua, a relative, on 23 September 2024 at her home, where she lived on a disputed piece of land. The court heard that she had endured years of harassment, threats and theft allegedly linked to efforts by Maua and his relatives to force her from the property.
On the day of her murder, the vulnerable Celestine had even fed by the man who would later sexually assault and kill her before locking her inside the house from outside.
Maua was arrested by members of the public during burial arrangements and later confessed before the area chief that he had gone to the deceased’s home at around 3pm, raped and strangled her. Her head was found tied with a piece of cloth.
He was subsequently charged with murder, which he denied.
