The High Court in Mombasa is set to rule on a plea for leniency from Murad Awadh Mbarak, a truck driver convicted of murdering his wife, Nuru Ibrahim, as prosecutors urge the court to hand down the maximum sentence ahead of sentencing next month.
Mbarak, 40, told the court that his four years in custody had changed him and that he feels deep remorse for his actions. He said he has no family or home to return to and asked the court to consider a reduced sentence or his release.
“Spending four years in prison has been a great lesson for me, and I ask for forgiveness for my sins,” he said.
The prosecution opposed any leniency, describing the killing as deliberate and exceptionally violent. They told the court that Ibrahim, a mother of six, was stabbed multiple times in front of her children and neighbours. Prosecutors added that Mbarak blocked neighbours from intervening, and one person was injured while trying to enter the house.
Evidence presented showed that Ibrahim was killed on June 19, 2022, at the family home in Kanamai, Kilifi County. Witnesses described a marriage strained by financial disputes and ongoing conflict. Ibrahim had sold her jewellery to help pay for the construction of their home, which was later registered in her husband’s name. Tensions escalated over a debt involving her brother.
Relations reportedly worsened after Ibrahim joined Instagram, which Mbarak viewed negatively. Family members said she had expressed fear for her safety and had considered leaving the marriage. Days before her death, she left personal documents and belongings with her sister, suggesting she was preparing to separate.
The court heard that Mbarak threatened to kill Ibrahim or release intimate photographs if she attempted to leave him. On the night of the attack, the couple’s 11-year-old daughter woke up to her mother’s screams and saw her father assault her with a broken piece of wood before stabbing her. Neighbours who tried to help were blocked from entering the house.
Mbarak surrendered to police and was arrested. Forensic evidence showed that blood on his clothes and a knife matched the victim. His claim that an intruder was responsible was rejected by the court, which found the attack planned and intentional.
In November, the court ruled that the prosecution had proved all elements of murder beyond reasonable doubt. Ten witnesses, including relatives and neighbours, described a relationship marked by repeated disputes and threats, requiring intervention from family members.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 19, 2026.
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