Former Citizen Television journalist Jacque Maribe was in the company of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at 40Forty Lounge in Westlands, Nairobi on the night of September 19, 2018, one of the two nights in which authorities suspect to be the date Monica Kimani was killed in her Kilimani apartment. The other possible date of the murder is September 20, the court was told.
And now, a witness has told the High Court in Nairobi that Jacque Maribe, one of the suspects in the murder of Monica Kimani, was not anywhere near Kimani’s house on the night of September 19, 2018.
Chelagat Ruto told Justice James Wakiaga on Wednesday, November 27, that Maribe spent the night of September 19 (a Wednesday) at the 40Forty Lounge in Westlands in the company of Sonko, herself [Chelagat] and a lady identified as Juliet, who was Chelagat’s friend. Another key suspect in the murder of Kimani, Joseph Irungu, aka Jowie, joined the three at 1am on a Thursday, September 20.
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Chelagat, who was in Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s campaign team in the lead-up to the August 8, 2017 general election, said she first met Maribe in early 2017, and, thereafter, struck up a friendship with her. Chelagat, a Lang’ata resident, told the court she is a businesswoman, who is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree at Hekima College.
“Jacque later in 2017, introduced her partner, Jowie, to me,” Chelagat said.
Chelagat recounted to the court the chronological account of events on the evening of September 19, 2018.
“On that day, I went to Road House restaurant on Dennis Pritt Road at 6:30pm. I met my friend Juliet. At the same restaurant, there was Jowie and his male friend, whom I would describe as a tall and dark-complexioned man,” said Chelagat.
The witness says she stayed at the restaurant up to around 8:45pm, and left for Citizen TV, which is located a few meters from Road House. Chelagat claims she had gone to the TV station upon the invitation of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. Sonko was to be the guest on Jeff Koinange Live show that evening.
Before leaving for Citizen TV headquarters, Chelagat said Jowie and his friend left at around 8:30pm.
“At Citizen, I parked my vehicle, a white Range Rover, at Q-Lounge and accessed Citizen premises alongside Governor Sonko,” she said.
“While at the TV station, I met Jacque Maribe, who requested us to wait for her to complete the day’s work so that she could accompany us to 40Forty Lounge,” said Chelagat.
“At around 11:30pm, still on the night of September 19, 2018, we left for the Westlands entertainment joint in my car, the white Range Rover model. Sonko’s convoy followed, thereafter. While at 40Forty, I was seated with Maribe, Sonko and Juliet, when Jowie arrived at 1am Thursday [September 20] while driving Maribe's car. Jowie was still dressed in the same outfit – brown khaki pants, a white T-shirt and a maroon cap,” said Chelagat.
“Jowie, however, chose a table of two, which was located a few meters from where we were seated. He took beer.”
The witness said at around 4am, she left the nightspot alongside her friend, Juliet, whereas Maribe and Jowie hailed a taxi home.
“A few days later, I learnt that a young woman had been killed in her house in Kilimani. I was shocked that Maribe and Jowie, who I have never had any differences with, were linked to the murder,” said Chelagat.
Also scheduled to testify on Wednesday, November 27, in the Monica Kimani murder case is Lamuria Gardens caretaker, Reagan Buluku.
