A middle-aged man, profiled in court as wedded to bootleg liquor will cool heels in jail for nuisance after he was found guilty of threatening to kill biological mother, selling goats, bananas and other property whet his appetite for alcohol.

A middle-aged man was on Thursday sentenced to three years behind bars for pleading guilty to threatening to kill his biological mother.

Simon Njuguna appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Susan Mwangi at Murang’a law courts where he was found guilty of uttering the words, “I will kill you” while armed with a knife and threatening to kill Mercy Wanjiku, his mother.

Wanjiku, the complainant, revealed that her son, had been a constant nuisance to the family as she described instances where he cut down her farm produce such as banana plants, set her clothes on fire and verbally abused her.

She also mentioned that he had threatened to beat her without cause and continuously harassed her.

Wanjiku further explained that Njuguna often woke her from sleep late at night when returning home drunk and when she refused to respond, he would start destroying her property. She divulged that she could not keep farm animals or even chicken because Njuguna would sell them to fund his drinking habits.

The complainant also stated that she had reported Njuguna to the Kagaa Police Post on multiple occasions noting that she had on several occasions forgiven him after he apologized and promised to change.

She said that despite her efforts to help him, including giving him jobs and purchasing a motorcycle for him to operate Bodaboda business, he remained disinterested, adding that she eventually gave away the motorcycle to a friend. The friend unfortunately later involved in an accident while riding it and the wreck now lies at home.

Wanjiku added that she was tired of his behaviour and prayed that the court would impose a custodial sentence so she could finally have peace at home.

“I have done everything I can as a parent to help him change and to support him in earning a decent living, but he has not embraced any of it,” she lamented.

Njuguna’s siblings testified that he was a danger to their mother as he was constantly causing trouble at home. They expressed fear for her safety and supported the request for a custodial sentence.

A local administrator also weighed in, stating that Njuguna had been a problem to both the family and society and agreed a punitive sentence was necessary for him to learn a lesson and change his ways since he had previously been forgiven multiple times.

Peris Ngumo, a probation officer, recommended a custodial sentence for Njuguna.

“In view of the above deliberations, I find the offender unsuitable for a non-custodial sentence. I recommend that the court proceeds with a custodial sentence,” he said.

Njuguna pleaded for a non-custodial sentence, claiming that he had no memory of the incident and only recalled returning home drunk and calling his mother before being arrested on March 8, 2025. He was arrested in Kagaa village, Kahuro Sub-County, Murang’a

After considering all the reports and statements, Senior Resident Magistrate Susan Mwangi concluded that Njuguna was unsuitable for a non-custodial sentence.

“I have weighed all the reports presented before the court, and I hereby sentence you to serve three years in prison to reflect on your behaviour,” she said.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Purity Mugo and John Kithuku