This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, a video of Jowie Irungu, the main suspect in Monica Kimani's murder, celebrating his birthday behind bars sparked a heated debate among Kenyans.
The video, shared by his brother and cousin, Joe Muchiri, raised questions about the metrics that had kept Jowie behind bars. Some users pointed out that the only sensible reason for his detention was the lack of tall relatives in crucial positions.
Comparing the case to the Cohen murder, Kenyans noted that despite the similarities, the main suspect was granted bail on her first application. This led to accusations that the judicial process was treating Jowie's case differently from the norm.
It's alleged that Jowie was considered guilty until proven innocent, which is against the law that provides that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
According to reports, Jowie was denied bail twice, with the judge presiding over the case referring to him as a 'male version of a slayqueen' who leeches on women for livelihood.
