Jowie Irungu is a prominent Kenyan media personality, entrepreneur and former radio host best known for his affair with news anchor Jacque Maribe. Their dramatic relationship and his subsequent murder trial captured headlines across Kenya.
In this biography, we delve into Jowie’s background, professional media career, relationship history with Maribe, the high-profile murder case, and current situation.
Jowie Irungu Biography Wiki Data
- Full Name: Joseph Irungu Jowie
- Date of Birth: January 2, 1987
- Place of Birth: Nyeri County, Kenya
- Education: Mang’u High School, University of Nairobi
- Career: Radio host, TV producer and presenter
- Former Workplaces: Kass Media Group, Radio Africa, Citizen TV, NTV
- Relationship: Jacque Maribe (engaged 2018)
- Criminal Conviction: Found guilty of Monica Kimani’s murder in 2019, sentenced to 15 years in prison
- Current Status: Incarcerated at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison since 2019
- Married to: Eleanor Nwambui (m. 2020)
- Children: 1 child with Jacque Maribe
- Estimated Net Worth: Around $300,000 (before imprisonment)
Early Life and Education
Joseph ‘Jowie’ Irungu was born on January 2, 1987 in Nyeri County, Kenya. He grew up in the village of Rimuruti and lost his mother while still young.
For his education, Jowie attended Mang’u High School where he played rugby. He proceeded to pursue Journalism and Mass Communication studies at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 2010.
Professional Media Career
After university, Jowie interned at The Standard Group media house and later worked at Kass Media Group. He also did a stint at Radio Africa Group before joining Citizen TV in 2015.
At Citizen TV, Jowie worked as a producer on shows like Tahidi High and Mutu na Ng’ombe. His quick wit and conversational skills on radio and TV caught audience attention.
In 2017, he debuted as a Swahili news anchor for NTV before hosting entertainment show The Trend. Jowie quickly became a recognizable face on Kenyan television.
Relationship and Engagement with Jacque Maribe
It was at Citizen TV that Jowie met and started dating journalist Jacque Maribe in 2017, which brought him greater public attention. Their whirlwind relationship culminated in Maribe becoming pregnant.
In a lavish ceremony covered by media, Jowie paid Maribe’s dowry in May 2018. They got engaged and planned to wed later that year, seeming like a glamorous media power couple.
However, the fairytale romance came crashing down due to a dark and tragic incident.
Arrest and Murder Trial
In September 2018, businesswoman Monica Kimani was found murdered in her apartment. Jowie was arrested as a suspect and charged with Kimani’s murder in October 2018.
Maribe was arrested as an accessory and also charged, but was later released on bail while Jowie remained in custody. Maribe gave birth to their child in prison during the trial.
After a dramatic and prolonged trial, Jowie was found guilty of Kimani’s murder in July 2019. In November 2019, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Maribe was acquitted of all charges.
Jowie still maintains his innocence and has appealed the conviction. The sensational case captured Kenya’s attention and ended Jowie and Maribe’s relationship.
Current Situation
As of early 2022, Joseph Irungu ‘Jowie’ continues to serve his prison sentence at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. He obtained a diploma in theology and ministers to fellow inmates.
Jowie married longtime partner Eleanor Nwambui in a civil ceremony at Kamiti Prison in 2020. He avoids publicity, though his case still receives occasional media coverage.
Some estimates suggest Jowie could have a net worth of around $300,000 from his former media career. But assets have been harder to determine after his fall from grace.
Summary
Jowie Irungu was an ambitious and rising Kenyan media personality whose career looked promising before he became engulfed in a real-life murder scandal. His relationship with and engagement to news anchor Jacque Maribe put him in the spotlight.
However, his conviction for businesswoman Monica Kimani’s murder in 2019 altered his fate drastically. Jowie is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence but maintains his innocence. The dramatic saga has left many questions unanswered.