Joseph Irungu alias Jowie is still in detention at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, one year after he was charged with the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani.
On Friday, November 1, Jowie's photos went viral on social media as netizens called for his release on bond.
Many compared him to a number of murder suspects who were released on bond. The few individuals mentioned included Sarah Wairimu, Migori Governor Okoth Obado, Jowie's friend and embattled journalist Jacque Maribe.
However, Jowie's photos started trending due to an event that was held at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison on Thursday, October 31. The event saw 16 inmates at the highly guarded prison graduate with a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of London after five years of studying.
African Prisons Project, a community of changemakers providing high- quality legal services, training, and education to those living and working in prison, empowers people in need of justice.
In partnership with the University of London, APP supported 16 prisoners from Naivasha, Kamiti and Lang’ata women’s prisons and one Kenya Prisons staff to study law via their world-class distance learning program.
Michael Khateli, a city photographer is the face behind Jowie's viral photos and he took to Facebook to share the story behind the event.
"The most inspiring story I got from my visit there was one of Wilson Kinyua. Kinyua was found guilty of robbery in 1998 and was sentenced at only 19 years old. He spent 21 years in Kamiti and was released seven months ago, with his a law degree. He has already secured a job at a law firm," Kateli posted.
"I wanted to inspire someone who is struggling with life not to give up," Khateli told Kenyans.co.ke on phone.
Most of the graduating inmates are at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison for life sentences. The inmates and officers were trained as auxiliary paralegals to offer free quality legal services across eight prisons in Kenya where they can establish permanent prison-based legal aid clinics.
“The UoL degree is very prestigious, it makes you feel different. The regional commander of Nyeri was really impressed on learning that I had attained a law degree while in prison.” Francis Munyao, a graduating student stated after being awarded his honours.
Babu Owino joined many Kenyans in demanding for the release of Jowie. The Embakasi East MP declared that he would take action to ensure that Joseph Irungu, gets justice.
"The maxim of law is that equity is equality. Is it because Jowie is poor, that’s why he is being frustrated by the rich judiciary?" he probed.
Jowie and former Citizen TV journalist Jacque Maribe are the prime suspects in the death of Monica Kimani, who was found dead at her Lamuria Gardens apartment in Kilimani, off Dennis Pritt Road on September 20, 2018.
On October 18, 2019, Maribe was released on a cash bail of Ksh1 million or a bond of Ksh2 million.
On the other hand, Jowie was denied bail by Justice James Wakiaga who termed him as a flight risk and that witnesses would be scared of testifying against someone who could access a gun when freed.
