Maribe remanded at Lang’ata Women’s Prison

Television journalist Jacque Maribe will be remanded at the Lang’ata Women’s Prison as she awaits a mental assessment to be conducted on her before taking plea, the High Court directed on Tuesday.

Justice Jessie Lesiit said that Maribe, a second respondent in the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani, could not take plea before undergoing a mental examination, which determines if she is fit to stand trial.

Justice Lesiit directed Maribe undergoes a mental test at the Mathari Mental Hospital before being presented in court on Monday, October 15.

Maribe’s lawyer Katwa Kigen had unsuccessfully persuaded the court to have her client take plea before undergoing a mental test.

The prosecution told the court that Maribe’s co-accused, Joseph Irungu alias Jowie, had already been subjected to mental evaluation, hence fit to take plea.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji recommended that Maribe and her fiance, Jowie, be charged with murder.

“I am satisfied that there exists a prima facie to warrant criminal prosecution…for the offence murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code,” said the DPP in a statement.

The two are accused of directly or indirectly being involved in the killing of Monica Kimani at her Lamuria Gardens apartment in Kilimani on the night of September 19.

The DPP ordered that Maribe and Irungu be immediately arraigned before the High Court and charged accordingly.