New Twist as Gunmen Attack Journalist Who Reported Maribe’s Appointment

The story about the appointment of former Citizen TV anchor Jackie Maribe by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has taken a new twist after unidentified gunmen reportedly attacked a Nation Media Group (NMG) journalist who broke the story.

According to a report by NMG, correspondent Mwangi Muiruri was on Friday, March 15, 2024, morning robbed of at gunpoint by three men.

Reports indicate that the three men who accosted Muiruri at gunpoint were dressed in navy blue suits in an incident that happened at the Makutano Intersection along the Nairobi-Nyeri highway at around 5:30 a.m.

Additionally, the gunmen were reported to have been driving a white Mazda Demio car which had soiled number plates.

Journalist attacked

During the altercation, the three men forcefully took away Ksh2,000 that was in the journalist’s shirt pocket and demanded his phone’s security pin.

He also suffered minor injuries with his left eye left bruised in the incident.

The attack, according to NMG, was recorded in an Occurrence Book (OB) report seen by The Kenya Times at the Makutano Police Station.

Also Read: Kuria Denies Appointing Jacque Maribe, Ropes in DCI and NMG CEO

This attack happened days after the NMG journalist reported on the controversial appointment of Jacquie Maribe by CS Moses Kuria to spark mixed reactions among Kenyans.

Maribe was reported to have been appointed Communications Director for the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management.

Hours later, however, Maribe’s appointment was met with an uproar that culminated in CS Kuria denying having confirmed the said appointment as quoted by the Nation Media Group journalist.

Kuria responds

Kuria through a statement on March 15 via his social media account claimed that the journalist had fabricated the story.

The CS further alleged that a short message service (SMS) which he was reported to have sent to the Nation journalist did not originate from his phone.

“Contrary to reports by the Nation, I have never been interviewed by the media House nor made any comment nor announcement about Jacque Maribe,” said Kuria.

The CS went on to challenge NMG CEO Stephen Gitagama to provide evidence from Muiruri who wrote the article about the appointment.

Also Read: Miguna Raises Burning Questions on Jacque Maribe Govt Job

Additionally, Kuria said that he had since alerted the CEO Gitagama that the said screenshot is a forgery.

“I will be at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters at 9.30am tomorrow to report the Nation Media Group and the reporter of fraud and forgery,” he added.

Meanwhile, NMG has reported that a programmes officer in CS Kuria’s office had on March 14 called the attacked journalist Muiruri and demanded the text message that had been sent to him by his boss, a request that was turned down.

Maribe appointment

In an earlier statement on Thursday, the Public Service Commission (PSC) indicated that no such appointment had been made. The commission also said that a request to employ her had not been received by the board as required.

On the other hand, Maribe who was recently acquitted of a murder charge in the murder case of the late Monica Kimani, reacted about the appointment noting that she was ready for her new designation.

The former news anchor has on several occasions in the past one week posted updates about activities in the Public Service Ministry, an indication of her involvement of the Ministry’s affairs.

Despite the new twist of events, Kuria said that he will stand by his friend Maribe indicating that they have known each other for the past 16 years.