This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
Joseph 'Jowie' Irungu's life is about to get even tougher.
On Friday, he was transferred from Kamiti Maximum Prison to Manyani Maximum Security Prison in Voi after being found with contraband during a random search.
According to a senior officer who spoke to the Star and requested anonymity, 'Jowie was moved from Kamiti to Manyani on Friday. I cannot say more than that,' the officer said on Monday.
As Jowie begins his new life in Manyani, he will be spending his second Christmas behind bars. The court is set to rule on his bail application on February 13, 2020.
His journey to Manyani began last year when he was arrested on September 25. He spent Christmas in remand, and in June 2019, the High Court declined to grant him bail for the second time.
Justice James Wakiaga dismissed Irungu's application for bail review, citing that it was premature and lacked merit.
Photos from inside Manyani Maximum Security Prison reveal the harsh reality that Jowie will face. Prisoners are seen hanging their belongings on the wall, with no beddings in sight. They also sleep on the floor, and the latrines are a far cry from what one would expect in a maximum security prison.
