Joseph Irungu, aka Jowie, has begun serving his death sentence in the brutal murder of Monica Kimani in 2018, but who is Jowie Irungu?
Not much is known about Josie's early years, except that he was born and raised in Nakuru and is also said to have attended the Technical University of Kenya before he left for Dubai.
Jowie rose to the limelight in 2018 when he proposed to his then-girlfriend, media personality Jackie Maribe. He was known to work for a security agency based in Dubai and planned to open a high-end security agency in Kenya.
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Pictures of their engagement rocked social media, making them the talk of the town, and they were termed the next power couple. But all that came crumbling down in September of 2018 after an upcoming socialite was found brutally murdered in her posh apartment in Lemuria Gardens.
Jowie was arrested shortly after alongside his fiancee, Jacquie Maribe, and they were both charged with the brutal murder. jowie was released on a ksh2 million cash bail or an alternative Ksh3 million bond 18 months after his arrest.
While on bail, jowie returned to his Christian roots and released some gospel songs. He also tried to foster a relationship with a new woman, but that didn't last long. He, however, maintained a low profile while out on bail.
On March 8, 2024, jowie was found guilty of the brutal murder of Monica Kimani, while his fiancee and co-accused, Jacquie Maribe, was found not guilty of the charges.
"Having considered the evidence in this matter it is the finding of this court that the prosecution has adduced adequate evidence and has met the threshold.... It is the finding of this court that the first accused person murdered the deceased," ruled Justice Grace Nzioka.
“It is my considered view that the charge brought against the second accused person (Jacque Maribe) was not the proper charge,” she stated.
During his sentencing on the 13th of March 2024, jowie and his family pleaded for mercy while the family of Monica Kimani called for him to be given the death sentence.
“He says he expresses his sadness that such a tragic loss of life on extreme circumstances bordering on absolute madness beyond understanding even for him,” the judge said, adding that it was also Irungu’s prayer “that the family of the deceased will find peace and that her soul rests in peace.”
"He is a staunch Christian, has produced several music videos, and has been involved in church activities. On the offense, the report states that Jowie maintains his innocence and that he was shocked and depressed to be linked with the murder.
"Jowie's family describes him as social, overly generous, respectful to the authority, and committed Christian. He believes in innocence, although he has painfully accepted the conviction. The family has stated that they have faced a lot of stigma and financial drain in the form of legal costs."
Despite his pleas and those of his family, Justice Nzioka remarked that Probation officer Andrew Kanyutu identified Jowie's "criminogenic risk factors," including impassive and confrontational. he was sentenced to death.
"He lacks stable partner relationships, he has antisocial personality patterns manifested by living on the edge, he is impulsive and a thrill seeker, he uses anger or aggression to control others, he has a double personality trait," Nzioka read Kanyutu's account.
Investigating officer Maxwell Otieno described Jowie as "an extremely dangerous person" and demanded the harshest penalty allowed by law.
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