Jowie, Otile Brown and Wazir Chacha

In a year defined by politics, scandals and deaths, it is only natural that those topics dominate the list of most-read stories over the past year.

U-report has walked with Kenyans through 2018, covering all major events and giving readers exclusive details.

The year began on high political temperatures following the disputed presidential elections in 2017.

Even as we remain hopeful and optimistic to welcome the year 2019, below are three men that dominated news headlines and even shocked Kenyans.

 

Wazir Benson Chacha

Wazir Benson Chacha was in the news for weeks in April this year.

Police arrested him in Tarime, Tanzania as a key suspect in a scam targeting Members of Parliament (MPs) and other senior Government officials.

Chacha had been hiding in Tanzania before his arrest waiting for his documents before he could move to Zanzibar where he had rented a house for a year.

The former employee in the Ministry of Devolution was accused of conning MPs by sending them text messages using the name of Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege.

Sabina Chege, however, denied having any contact with the con suspect and even dared Chacha to release videos proving otherwise.

Police questioned Chacha about the registration of a fake M-Pesa account using Chege’s details.

Chacha was also alleged to have seduced women legislators putting them in compromising situations before conning them.

 

Joseph Kuria Irungu aka ‘Jowie’

The fiancé of TV journalist Jacque Maribe, Joseph Kuria Irungu, popularly known as Jowie, was arrested in connection with the murder of Ms Monica Kimani in Kilimani, Nairobi.

He was arrested in September as police could not corroborate his claim of being shot in the shoulder at Langata which he reported at Lang'ata Police Station.

28-year-old Monica Kimani was found dead in the apartment the same day she got back from South Sudan. Her brother found her lifeless body in the bath tub with her throat slit.

Maribe’s minimal connection with Monica’s murder and good conduct during the investigation period saved her from a long stay in custody as Justice Wakiaga released her on Sh1 million cash bail. Jowie on the other hand was denied bail.

On Jowie’s release, Justice Wakiaga said his past record of military training, lack of known place of abode, possibility of fleeing the country, his mysterious lifestyle and the threat he possessed to witnesses informed his decision.

He ruled that Irungu depended on Maribe and had nothing of his own in the country to depend on.

“The picture that emerges from the prosecution evidence as set out in the case and the pre-bail report of the accused is that he is a male version of a slay queen and for lack of a better terminology, I will call a woman eater,” said Wakiaga.

Jowie was reportedly moved to the Kamiti Maximum Prison.

 

Otile Brown

Four months ago, popular socialite-cum-entrepreneur, Vera Sidika allegedly dumped her lover, Otile Brown – a Kenyan musician.

Their relationship had for months been the talk of town, turning heads with their blossoming public display of affection.

Rumours of their apparent break-up were fuelled when it surfaced that the socialite deleted all of Otile’s photos that they took from their sponsored romantic trip to the island of Mauritius.

Days later, Otile Brown also took down all of Vera’s photos from his Instagram account and unfollowed her.

Vera Sidika took to social media and savagely attacked her ex Otile Brown.

Vera claimed that he was poor in bed and didn’t have the necessary tools of trade.

Otile Brown now seems to be looking for other women outside the country, following his break up with Sidika.

The 25-year-old was seen with Diamond’s ex- girlfriend, Kimnana at Space Lounge this past weekend.

Through his snapchat, Otile posted a photo of Kimnana dressed down at his house while having a good time.