NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 10 — Jowie Irungu’s killing of businesswoman Monica Kimani at Nairobi’s Lamuria Gardens in September 2018 emerged as a spotlight in Friday’s judgement convicting him of the murder.
In an analysis of a postmortem report conducted by pathologist Peter Ndegwa on the body of the deceased, Justice Grace Nzioki noted that the nature of the execution pointed to Jowie as an individual with specialised military training as revealed in witness accounts.
She cited the targeting of the Common Carotid Artery (CCA) and the Internal Jugular Vein (IJV) responsible for supplying and draining oxygene and deoxygenated blood to the head as a pointer to the fact.
“It does appear that the person who killed the deceased was well aware of these and that is why the neck where these arteries and veins are were targeted,” Justice Nzioka noted.
“In my considered opinion, the target of the neck clearly indicates that the perpetrator of the crime fully intended and ensured the deceased died and had no chance of survival,” she noted.
Ndegwa’s examination revealed an apparent piercing of the victim’s airway with both her right carotid and jugular veins severed.
Justice Nzioka described photographs produced in court as depressing saying “they are not worth a second look.”
She noted the slitting of Kimani’s neck resembled the slaughter of a goat or hen, indicating a painful and merciless death.
“No wonder the counsel for the first accused kept on cross-examining the witnesses as to whether they have ever slaughtered a cow or a goat,” she noted.
No commotion
Justice Nzioka noted that the precision with which Jowie executed the murder left no chance for neighbours to notice a commotion.
“That is what happened to the deceased and it is not surprising that nobody including the neighbours heard her scream or struggle,” she said.
The court also considered testimony from Chief Inspector Otieno, who asserted that the method used to slit Kimani’s neck indicated proficiency in military techniques.
Given Irungu’s background in providing VIP protection and his familiarity with firearms, the court concluded that he possessed the necessary skills to execute the killing.
“From the evidence above [Otieno’s testimony], it is clear that, for the first accused to offer VIP protection, he definitely must have gone through security training and therefore was not an amateur in matters of security and possessed basic knowledge in military operation,” Nzioka said.
“It is the finding of the court that the training the first accused had, aided him in the murder of the deceased.”
The court slotted Jowie’s sentencing for March 8, 2024.
