A convicted Kenyan truck driver has asked the High Court in Mombasa to show mercy as prosecutors insist he deserves the harshest possible sentence for killing his wife, Nuru Ibrahim.
Murad Awadh Mbarak, 40, was found guilty of murdering Ibrahim after she joined Instagram against his wishes. As sentencing approaches next month, the court is considering arguments from both sides following his plea for leniency.
During a hearing on January 27, 2026, Mbarak told the court that four years in custody had changed him and that he was remorseful for his actions. He said he had no family or home to return to and appealed for a reduced sentence or release.
Prosecutors rejected the request, describing the killing as deliberate, planned and extremely violent. They told the court that Ibrahim, a mother of six, was stabbed several times at their home in Kanamai, Kilifi County, on June 19, 2022, in front of her children and neighbours.
They added that Mbarak prevented neighbours from intervening and that one person was injured while trying to enter the house.
The court heard that the couple’s marriage had been strained by financial disputes and ongoing conflict, which worsened after Ibrahim joined Instagram. Family members testified that she feared for her safety and had been preparing to leave the marriage days before her death.
Forensic evidence linked Mbarak to the crime, and his claim that an intruder was responsible was dismissed. In a judgment delivered in November, the court ruled that the prosecution had proven the murder beyond reasonable doubt.
