TV journalist Jacqueline Wanjiru Maribe and Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie have suffered a major blow after the director of public prosecution ordered that they be charged with the murder of Monica Kimani. DPP Noordin Haji said he had independently reviewed the evidence so far on record and found that there is sufficient evidence to warrant charges against the two.
“I have therefore directed that they be immediately arraigned before the High Court and charged accordingly. I am satisfied that there exists a prima facie to warrant criminal prosecution … for the offence murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code,” he said Tuesday.
DPP’s Press Statement on the murder of the Late Monicah Nyawira Kimani. pic.twitter.com/18adFJgQjU
— ODPP_KE (@ODPP_KE) October 9, 2018
The DPP ordered that Maribe and Irungu be immediately arraigned before the High Court and charged accordingly. Jacque Maribe was arrested on September 30 and held at the Gigiri Police Station. Maribe’s fiancé Joseph Irungu had been seized five days earlier and was held in police custody at the Muthaiga station. Monica was found dead at her apartment in Kilimani with the throat slit and hands tied.
More than 15 people were questioned in the probe. They include Bryan Kassaine who is the neighbour to Maribe and Irungu. Kassaine had been arrested after it was established Irungu used his gun to try to commit suicide in their house at Royal Park estate, Langata after the murder of Monica. Kassaine is now a state witness in the matter after the DPP failed to call for his prosecution.