Citizen TV News Anchor Jacque Maribe, Fiancée Deny Killing Businesswoman Monica Kimani

Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe and her fiancée Joseph 'Jowie' Irungu were on Monday morning arraigned in court where they were charged with the murder of business lady Monica Kimani.

Appearing before Justice Jessie Lessit, the couple pleaded not guilty to killing the 29-year-old woman on September 19th.

“Joseph Kuria Irungu and Jacque Maribe at an unknown time at Lamuria Gardens apartments on Kitale Lane, off Denis Pritt Road in Kilimani area within Nairobi County you are jointly charged with the murder of Monica Kimani,” judge Lesiit read out the charge.

The two were paraded in court after undergoing a mental assessment, which declared them fit to stand trial.

Maribe and Irungu will remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail application. Justice Lessit directed the matter be mentioned on Wednesday before a different judge who will set a date for the hearing of the bail application.

Lessit dismissed Maribe’s lawyer Katwa Kigen bid to have the bail application heard immediately after plea taking, arguing that the accused persons have been in remand for the last two weeks.

“Your Ladyship we are very kindly requesting you for accelerated dates if its not possible to have the mention (for bail application) today… The accused persons have already been in custody for the last 15 dates,” submitted Kigen.

Maribe will spend more time at the Lang’ata Women’s Prison while Jowie remains at the Industrial Area Remand Prison.

Monica was brutally murdered at her apartment in Nairobi's Kilimani estate hours after returning to the country from South Sudan where she managed a family business. Her body had been dumped in a bathtub with hands and legs tied, and throat slit.