The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has filed a notice of appeal against the High Court judgement that acquitted Jacque Maribe in the murder case of businesswoman Monica Kimani.
ODPP stated in the notice that it was dissatisfied with the decision to free the former Citizen TV news anchor.
“Take notice that the Republic, the intended Appellant herein, being dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Hon. G. Nzioka), delivered in Nairobi on February 9, 2024, appeals to the Court of Appeal against the part of the judgment acquitting the 2nd Accused Person,” the notice read in part.
In the ruling, Judge Grace Nzioka declared that the DPP did not provide enough evidence to implicate Maribe in Monica's murder.
She added that ODPP preferred the wrong charges against her as the court accused her of perjury rather than murder. Maribe was said to have willingly lied to police officers to derail the case.
While acquitting Maribe, Judge Grace Nzioka found Joseph Irungu alias Jowie guilty of murder and set his sentencing to March 8.
"The evidence that the prosecution has brought before this court on the second accused person relates to events of September 20, 2018, and that is the shooting incident," Judge Nzioka stated that the exhibit linked Maribe to Jowie intentionally shooting himself to change the trajectory of the murder case.
She thus urged the ODPP to take decisive action based on their constitutional mandates.
Maribe when asked for a comment following the ruling, quoted a Bible verse, "I have nothing to say but for you shall know the truth and it shall set you free.”
His lawyers added that they will await further directives before deciding on their way forward.
“She was not at the scene. And in a way we really blamed the prosecution for maintaining an insistence on this case, when it had no basis,” her lawyer Katwa Kigen insisted.
"We want to say that throughout the period, her conscience has been clear, and the evidence has never at any time suggested that she was implicated," he added.
