Cholmondeley was doing time over the murder of stonemason Robert Njoya on May 10, 2006, at his Soysambu Ranch in Naivasha. The Daily Nation Online (October 23, 2009) reports that Mr. Cholmondeley was released on good behavior after serving almost five out of the eight months sentence he had received for the “accidental” murder of Mr. Njoya.
Robert Njoya was until his murder a stonemason who was allegedly poaching at the vast Delamere Ranch in Soysambu. Mr. Cholmondeley had attempted to give Mr. Njoya first aid after shooting him while in the company of his friend Carl Tundo in 2006.
Cholmondeley shocked many after reports surfaced that he had shot Mr. Njoya hardly a year after he had been acquitted of killing Kenya Wildlife Service game ranger Samson ole Sisina in April 19, 2005. His acquittal sparked outrage with the family of the victim claiming that the government had chosen to drop the case because of Mr. Cholmondeley’s status in society.
Struggles of A Widow
In an article titled “Hand To Mouth Life For Njoya Widow” marsgroupkenya.org (May 21, 2009) describes Robert Njoya’s widow as a casual laborer who has to fend for her family by selling yams in the streets of Nakuru after the breadwinner’s demise. With the dry spell, farming has been particularly hard to her, making her business even harder.
The widow is forced at times to work as a casual labourer at neighbors’ houses in order to make ends meet. She has school-going children who have to undergo hardships in their studies. Mrs. Njoya said that she appreciated the ruling of the court after Cholmondeley was sentenced to eight months and further added that she has forgiven him and she now has to focus on the future.
The Standard Online (October 24, 2009) reports that Cholmondeley was released early in the morning on October 23, 2009. Prison authorities held a press briefing to explain circumstances of his release. Mr. Cholmondeley had no family members to pick him up from prison and had to be dropped at a friend’s house in the affluent Karen suburb.
Prosperous Life of Tom Cholmondeley
Cholmondeley is a Kenyan of British ancestry who has established himself as a renowned farmer. He is married to Dr. Sally A. Brewerton, and together they have a son, Hugh Cholmondeley. He is the great-grandson of the famous Lord Delamere, one of the first and most influential British settlers in Kenya.
Cholmondeley’s family has a vast ranch in Naivasha which is approximated to be 19,000 hectares and boasts of tourist lodges like the Mbweha Camp and Mawe Mbili Lodge. The patriarch of the family Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere, was an influential settler who is very well known in the Kenyan history.
Lord Delamere came to Kenya back in 1919 and settled in the country becoming a very successful farmer. He was at one time president of the Kenya National Farmers Union. Lord Delamere was also known for rearing top horses as well as being a good jockey.
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