Jacque Maribe might be guilty, but what she is going through at the moment is something you can’t wish even on your worst enemy.
Apart from dealing with cyber bullies, the journalist also has to deal witth the fact that her employer, Citizen TV has abandoned her and she could be jobless when and if she clears her name from Monica Kimani’s murder.
Reliable sources indicate that, Royal Media services has already send Maribe on a compulsory paid leave until she clears her name. But it is also clear to their viewers that the TV station have refused to mention their association with the mother of one during the coverage of the high profile murder probe.
In its news bulletins, anchors and reporters have variously been referring to her as journalist, TV anchor and TV journalist without indicating any association with her despite the fact that no offense has been framed against her so far with police still investigating whether she knew her fiancé Joseph Irungu, who is the prime suspect, committed the offence and then tried to cover up for him by falsifying his alibi and how and where he sustained a bullet wound on his chest.
TV Journalist Jacque Maribe detained for 10 days at Gigiri Police Station to allow probe into the murder of Monica Kimani, Kiambu court rules pic.twitter.com/dpYhAOkuAV
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 1, 2018
On Monday, a Kiambu court ordered that she be detained at Gigiri Police Station until October 11 to allow police to conclude their investigations, which would include a forensic analysis of items found in her house at Royal Park Estate in Lang’ata. She is likely to be charged with being an accessory to the murder and possession of firearms.
While in court, Maribe’s lawyer Katwe Kigen revealed that his client was a victim of mockery and intimidation by other inmates of the weekend. Kigen asked that detectives should guarantee her safety while in custody.
If true, it will not be the first time Royal Media Services is throwing one of its own under the bus for attracting negative publicity. Early this year, Swahili news anchor Swaleh Mdoe was removed from his role as Acting Managing Editor, Swahili, after he went public seeking to sell one of his kidneys to settle bank debts. This is after he refused to disown the appeal as instructed by his seniors. He was subsequently replaced by former NTV anchor, Jamila Mohammed.
Maribe, a former actress in the Constant Gardener (2005), joined Citizen TV in 2012 after stints at K24 and Kiss TV. She is a Political Affairs Reporter and anchors prime time news on Fridays.