Jowie Not Among Pardoned Inmates, Lawyer Clarifies
Joseph Kuria Irungu, popularly known as Jowie, has not been pardoned under the presidential Power of Mercy, his lawyer Andrew Muge has clarified.
Muge dismissed media reports claiming Jowie was among 57 inmates recently pardoned by President William Ruto as part of a clemency initiative aimed at promoting rehabilitation and restorative justice.
Speaking to Citizen Digital, Muge explained that the individual named in the gazette notice — Joseph Irungu Maina — is not his client. According to the notice, that inmate was serving time at Naivasha Prison, whereas Jowie is currently incarcerated at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi.
The lawyer also expressed confidence in their ongoing appeal against Jowie’s March 2024 sentencing. Lady Justice Grace Nzioka sentenced Jowie to death for the 2018 murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani. Muge insisted that a presidential pardon is unnecessary, as they are optimistic the Court of Appeal will rule in their favour.
“We do not need the pardon, as the appeal will succeed once it proceeds,” Muge stated.
However, he acknowledged that the appeal process has been delayed due to administrative bottlenecks within the judiciary. Specifically, he pointed to the criminal registry’s failure to compile and submit the record of appeal — a crucial step in criminal cases, unlike in civil matters where parties prepare their own documentation.
“The delay in moving the appeal has been caused by the criminal registry,” he explained, adding that the appeal is currently stalled due to the lack of required records.
Despite the setbacks, Muge expressed hope that the process will soon move forward.
“There has been some progress over the past two weeks. We’re hopeful the record will be provided as required by the Court of Appeal rules,” he said.
Jowie, 33, was convicted of murdering Monica Kimani at her Lamuria Gardens apartment in Nairobi on the night of September 19, 2018. His sentencing was delivered on March 13, 2024, by Justice Nzioka.
