The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is not satisfied with a court ruling that acquitted former TV journalist Jacque Maribe in the Monica Kimani murder case.

In her ruling on Friday, February 9, High Court Judge Lady Justice Grace Nzioka only found first accused person (Jowie Irungu) guilty of Monica’s brutal murder, but exonerated Maribe.

While the judge noted that prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Jowie had killed Monica, she said that evidence adduced against Maribe did not place her in the house of the deceased on the fateful night of September 19, 2018, when the murder took place.

‘Maribe murder count wrong’

Therefore, Judge Nzioka ruled that the count of murder placed against Maribe by prosecution was not the proper charge.

But in a rejoinder, the DPP has filed a notice of appeal against the High Court judgement at the Court of Appeal.

“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 the 9th of February 2024, appeals to the Court of Appeal against the part of the judgment acquitting the 2nd Accused Person,” reads the notice.

While delivering her ruling, Justice Nzioka did not entirely exonerate Maribe, out rightly indicating that she had given misleading information to authorities while recording her statements on how Jowie sustained gunshot wounds.

“The office of the DPP knows their mandate. The resolve is that the prosecution did not adduce adequate evidence for this court to find the second accused person of the offence of murder of Monica Nyawira Kimani on the night of 19th September 2018. The first accused person is convicted on the charge (murder) while the second accused person is acquitted of the charge,” Justice Nzioka ruled.