Jacob Juma widow still waiting for answers

CORD Leader Raila Odinga consoles Mrs Miriam Juma, the wife of the late Businessman Jacob Juma at Lee funeral home when he was mysteriously gunned down. Despite the Directorate of Criminal Investigations promising to get to the bottom of her husband’s murder, nothing has been forthcoming. (PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/ STANDARD)

Life for Miriam Juma, the widow of slain businessman Jacob Juma, has been tough.

Despite the Directorate of Criminal Investigations promising to get to the bottom of her husband’s murder, nothing has been forthcoming.

Mrs Juma sees the claims that Simon Muturi was behind the murder of her husband as part of a cover-up by the State.

“It has been tough for us. It was an assassination,” she claimed.

She feels police investigators have been casual in handling the investigation. The fact that the DCI has failed to provide the family with details of Juma’s last movements reinforces its long-held view that someone somewhere wanted Juma’s killers to walk free.

“It is still not too late... it’s too early for a public inquest,” she said.

It’s not clear why the Government has indicated it wants to set up a public inquest when the supposed killers of Jacob Juma have since been gunned down.

Miriam says her husband was a worried man weeks before he was gunned down. Her worries were heightened when Juma failed to return her calls and failed to show up at home.

KTN obtained phone records and text messages of the slain businessman that indicated Juma had information on the controversial Eurobond saga.

Juma had last spoken to a former Cabinet minister before his killers waylaid him.

FEMALE COLLEAGUE

Police said Juma was in the company of a female colleague, who told police the businessman had dropped her in the central business district. “We have questioned the lady and it doesn’t mean her story adds up,” DCI boss Ndegwa Muhoro says.

KTN met Cheryl Gitonga who now says she had never met Juma before and their first meeting was not a planned one.

I met him (Juma) at an M-Pesa place. He was complaining that he had sent money to a wrong number and he wanted it reversed. That is where he asked for my number and I gave him,” said Ms Gitonga.

Cheryl, who has been a person of interest to the police for some time, says Juma later called her for a meeting in his Westlands office.

“I did not stay for long. After a while, I asked to go home and he said he was going to town so he would drop me. He dropped me in the CBD.”

KTN found out that her story adds up, until she is dropped in the CBD.

The DCI’s version of events raised eyebrows over a possible cover-up of Juma’s last movements.

Indeed, CCTV cameras mounted by the police are said to have captured Juma’s last moments leaving the CBD, but insiders say the contents of his movements are missing. Police are yet to arrest any suspect, let alone point to a possible motive behind Juma’s killing.