Francis Ng'ang'a

Case record: Francis Ng'ang'a

Overview

Francis Ng'ang'a lived at Lower Matasia, Ngong. He was 31 years old and worked as a matatu driver. He was separated from his wife, Rhoda Gathoni, 29. Rhoda Gathoni had custody of their three daughters: Carol Nasirian (10), Wairimu (age not provided), and Naisenya (7).

Background

Francis Ng'ang'a picked up the children from their mother’s custody in Kayole, Nairobi. While picking up the children, he tried to persuade his wife to return to his house with him, but she was not interested.

When Rhoda Gathoni turned him down, Francis Ng'ang'a got violent. Ngige Mutua, Rhoda Gathoni’s father, was on hand to dish out punishment on Francis Ng'ang'a.

After Francis Ng'ang'a returned home with his daughters, his mother took up the story.

The offence

Francis Ng'ang'a had the three girls drink each. The drink contained (or was pure) Cooper Triatix, a chemical. The girls died fairly quickly after drinking it. After the deaths, Francis Ng'ang'a put all three bodies in the sitting room.

Francis Ng'ang'a dressed the girls in neat tunics and placed them on their stomachs on one sofa seat. He arranged the bodies in order of their age. He covered them with a blanket.

Francis Ng'ang'a then hung himself from the roof right beside the three corpses, using a black cable.

Francis Ng'ang'a was wearing a green denim jeans suit, a purple T-shirt, a woollen hat, and brown socks.

Investigation

The bodies were found at 9am on Sunday morning by relatives. The relatives broke into the house because Francis Ng'ang'a and the children did not show up at his mother’s for breakfast.

A younger brother of the children was also involved in conveying bad news. The details stated that a few days later, the mother of the children did not find out about their deaths until a few days later because the girls younger brother was sent to relay the bad news to her.

Arrest

No arrest was recorded.

Trial

No trial was recorded.

Sentencing

No sentencing was recorded.

Appeals

No appeals were recorded.

Outcome

Francis Ng'ang'a committed suicide by hanging the same day.

Relatives found the girls’ bodies at 9am on Sunday morning.

The younger brother sent to relay the bad news “was found to be too shocked and confused to carry out the mission.”

Aftermath

Francis Ng'ang'a’s mother described events after he returned home. She said:

“When he got home, at 5pm, he informed me that he had finally brought his children back. He said he was no longer interested in his wife and would never want to see her at their matrimonial home.”

When Francis Ng'ang'a’s mother asked why he looked unhappy, he told her:

“When I asked him why he looked unhappy, he said his father-in-law had beaten him up. He then went back to his house as the children went out to play with the rest,”

Later in the evening, his mother invited him for dinner with the children, but he declined, saying:

He declined dinner, saying that the children had already fed on food his mother had prepared.

The mother did not learn of the girls’ deaths until a few days later, because the girls’ younger brother was sent to relay the bad news but could not do so, being too shocked and confused to carry out the mission.

Timeline

• Saturday, November 20, 1999 — Francis Ng'ang'a picked up his children from their mother’s custody in Kayole, Nairobi; tried to persuade Rhoda Gathoni to return; violence occurred; Ngige Mutua punished Francis; Francis returned home with his daughters.
• 5pm (Saturday, November 20, 1999) — Francis Ng'ang'a informed his mother he had brought the children back and said he was no longer interested in his wife and would never want to see her at their matrimonial home.
• Sunday 9am — Relatives found the bodies after breaking into the house.