Jubilee Party digital strategist Dennis Itumbi on Wednesday, December 18, penned a heartwarming message in the form of a poem to former Citizen TV anchor Jacque Maribe.
In a post on Facebook, Itumbi poetically described Maribe as a close friend, showing unwavering resilience in ensuring their friendship stood the test of time.
Itumbi who has never shied away from publicly expressing his affection for the former broadcaster made his latest gesture on the birthday of the journalist who is one of the suspects in the murder of businesswoman Monicah Kimani.
Ever since Itumbi's grand move to surprise Maribe on a live broadcast during Citizen TV's lunchtime news in December 2015, their friendship has played out in the public with their subsequent run-ins with law enforcement further sustaining the interest of Kenyans in them, especially on social media.
“Happy Birthday, Jacque Maribe,
You are a fire.
A Fire in your stage presence,
A Fire that has super hot flames,
Flames that keep them talking,” reads part of the poem.
Itumbi praised Maribe for her resilience amid the turbulent year that saw her lose her job at Citizen TV following her implication in the gory murder of of Monicah Kimani due to her association with the prime suspect, Joseph Irungu alias Jowie.
In July, 2019, Maribe was pictured visiting Itumbi at the Muthaiga Police Station where he had been held in association with authoring an alleged assassination letter against Deputy President William Ruto.
The photos would cause uproar on social media that saw the then Muthaiga OCS Alphonse Kimengwa interdicted for allowing them to take pictures. Itumbi and his friends also risked being charged for disorderly conduct Police Act Section 60 (1).
Itumbi had earlier in December 2018, also jotted a heartfelt message to Maribe, a norm that appears unfailing year after year.
In the poem posted on instagram, Itumbi sympathised with the tribulations that Maribe had gone through in the year, and urged her on, saying he expected her to be stronger in 2019 despite the challenges.
In October 2019, Maribe was making news on social media in another show of solidarity with Itumbi after he appeared on K24 TV's Punchline with Anne Kiguta when the controversial topic of the Head of State Commendation (HSC) award given to them both arose.
"Question is he (Itumbi) and I among others got HSC awards. Problem is people don't research how these awards are given. Riswa! Tunaelewa! Mungu mbele (we understand).
"I am, Jacque Maribe, HSC," she affirmed via her Instagram account.
Below is the is the poem penned by Itumbi for Maribe on her December 18, 2019 birthday:
Happy Birthday, Jacque Maribe,
You are a FIRE.
A Fire in your stage presence,
A Fire that has super hot flames,
Flames that keep them talking,
You are a Fire of beauty and sexy.
A Fire that sparks and sustains friendships,
A Fire, I gladly embrace and use to ink this poem,
A Fire that is so lovely to resist,
You are a Fire on top of a mountain,
Living life, courageously, powerfully and unapologetically
A Fire that refines your ore into gold.
A Golden friend.
A Golden mum
A Golden trailblazer
So here an online hug, tight, endless and Forever.
Our Friendship, is our souls on Fire.
Burning the past into ashes, connecting us,
Soldering to the future, with the force of water down a waterfall...
Friends, planted right at the bull's eye of our hearts, is what we are...
May you get endless Birthday kisses and triumphs...
You are a lovely FIRE..
I wish you Endless victory, may you warm our hearts.
Happy Birthday!
