Jowie finally released from Kamiti prison after raising cash bail

The main suspect in the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani is finally out of Kamiti Maximum Prisons.

Joseph Irungu alias Jowie (above) was released by High Court Judge James Wakiaga on a Sh2 million cash bail on February 13, 2020, but failed to meet his bail terms forcing him to remain behind bars at Kamiti Prisons for almost a month.

At the time, his family was striving to raise the money and even came up with a pay bill to raise the money online through well-wishers to secure his release. On March 11, after almost a month, his family managed to reach at the court's demands securing Jowie's release from Kamiti Prisons.

The family accused the DCI of playing games in Irungu’s case. They alleged that after they had deposited the money in the Judiciary's Bank account, they realized that Jowie’s passport which was being held by detectives suddenly went missing.

Their complaints prompted a senior detective to deliver Jowie’s passport to the courts triggered processing of his release from Kamiti. When the detective was reached for a comment, he said they had misplaced Irungu's passport.

"We have faced immense frustration but we thank God for everything. He will open a way and justice will be served,” a family member said.

In his ruling, Justice Wakiaga's said that there were no compelling reasons to have the suspect detained longer at this stage of the trial because 15 witnesses had already testified, among them Maribe's house-help, watchmen at Lamuria Gardens and Jowie's friend whose gun was allegedly used by Jowie to shoot himself after the incident. Jowie is still healing from the wound on his chest.

While delivering a judgment on his release, the judge cautioned him against commenting on media and social media platforms about the case. Jowie was also asked to report to his area chief every end month after which his chief would make monthly reports to the court’s deputy registrar.

Irungu was also ordered to deposit his passport in court. The suspect was warned against getting a new passport or any other travel document pending his trial.

He was arrested on September 26, 2018, over the murder of a businesswoman Monica Kimani who had just jetted into the country from South Sudan where she was running her family's business.

The incident sparked controversy and public outcry in the manner in which the 28-year-old was murdered. It was reported to have happened at Lamuria Gardens Apartment on the night of September 19, 2018 in Kimani's rented house.

Television journalist Jacque Maribe was also arrested and was also facing trial alongside Jowie over Monica's murder.

Maribe was detained and later freed on October 30, 2018, on Sh1 million cash bail or a Sh2 million bond with a surety of the same amount.