Home Sweat Home: Maribe Finally Has A Roof Over Her Head

They say that there is no better place such as home. It is at home that most of us find peace of mind and keep ourselves from the hustles of life.

It was therefore normal for Jacque Maribe to seek for access of her house after months of being locked out from it by the state.

The court has today ruled that the TV journalist will finally have access to her home from Tuesday next week.

She was however not handed over her phone as she had requested with the Prosecution led by Prosecutor Catherine Mwaniki stating that her phone will still be used as an exhibit in court.

Her car was also not handed back to her with the prosecution stating that it is waiting for a report from the government chemist which is not ready on whether they should release it or use it as an exhibit.

In a fresh application filed in court, Ms Maribe wanted Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji and Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to avail the said items in just 24 hours, should the court grant her request.

Through her lawyer Katwa Kigen, Ms Maribe  accused Mr Haji of acting in contempt of court by refusing to allow her to have her house as well as witness statements relating to her trial.

The journalist noted that all her clothes and accessories, including an automated teller machine card, medical cards, books and medication for her child, remained locked up in the house.

She said she has been forced to beg for clothes, accommodation, transportation and a phone.

Ms Maribe also noted that her child has been subjected to the criminal justice process and inconvenience.

She dismissed claims that she would be unavailable for the trial, saying she willingly surrendered her house, car and phone to police before any search warrant was availed.

When she was freed on bond on October 30 by High Court judge James Wakiaga, she was granted access to the house as well as the disputed case documents.

Maribe however argued that she had not been given a good reason for the delay or the breach of the court order, a circumstance that she said amounts to automatic infringement of her rights.

“It is an absolute violation that despite explicit court orders, provision of law and undertakings by the prosecution, that materials have not been supplied to Ms Maribe on timelines provided and that the default has persisted for long,” said Mr Kigen, Maribe’s Lawyer.

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