Monica Kimani murder: Investigator tells court why Joseph Irungu 'Jowi' is main suspect

Suspects in the Monica Kimani murder case Joseph Irungu alias Jowie and Jackie Maribe at a Milimani court on Monday, May 9, 2022. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

The lead investigator in the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani has narrated to court why they singled out Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie, as the main suspect.

Chief Inspector Maxwel Otieno said all witnesses interviewed pointed a finger at Jowie as the man who stole an identity card to access Ms Kimani’s house and was the last person with her before her body was discovered.

“One witness confirmed to us that Jowie went to see Ms Kimani on the night she was murdered and returned looking disturbed. Jowie told the witness they had disagreed with the woman he had gone to see,” he said.

According to the investigator, Jowie tried to conceal his movements as he went to Ms Kimani’s apartments, including stealing the ID to gain access, lie to security guards that he had no mobile phone and wearing a kanzu.

Mr Otieno was testifying in the case in which Jowie and journalist Jacqueline Maribe are facing trial over the murder of Ms Kimani on the night of September 19, 2018, at Lamuria Gardens apartments in Kilimani.

The investigator told Justice Grace Nzioka that after arresting Jowie, they closed in on his close friends who were with him on the night of the murder and who spilled the beans on his movements.

“One of the people he was with was Jennings Olando who told us they met at Road House Grill which is not far from the deceased’s house. He described to us what Jowie was wearing,” he said.

Armed with a gun

According to Mr Otieno, the witness told them Jowie had excused himself at around 8.10pm that he wanted to meet a lady friend.

While at the car, the witness said Jowie removed a gun and hoisted it in his waist before he put on the kanzu to cover everything.

Jowie joined him later at around 11pm looking disturbed and told him he had disagreed with the lady friend he went to see. Mr Otieno said a security guard at Lamuria Gardens confirmed Jowie was there but had not indicated his phone number in the visitors’ book.

“He disguised himself but the guard identified him.” Next, the investigator said they went for the person whose identity card was used by Jowie and identified him as Dominic Hosea. He said he lost his ID on September 17, 2018, within Royal Park Estate where Jowie and Maribe lived.

Police also interviewed Jowie and Maribe’s neighbour at Royal Park Brian Kasaine who confirmed Jowie had borrowed his firearm which he is alleged to have used to shoot himself and lie that he was attacked by thugs.

“Claims that he was shot by thugs were false. We traced him to the hospital he went to and also discovered he only reported the incident after a day,” Mr Otieno said. The hearing continues.