Reports regarding the release of Joseph Irungu, alias “Jowie,” who had been jailed for the murder of businesswoman Monicah Kimani, dominated social media conversations on Tuesday, May 28, 2025.
The discussion was triggered by a gazette notice dated Friday, May 23, which listed an individual named Joseph Irungu Maina among 57 prisoners pardoned by President William Ruto under the Power of Mercy Act. A local media outlet also reported on the alleged release of Jowie.
However, Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President, dismissed these claims as false.
The alleged release of Jowie Irungu sparked mixed reactions across social media platforms; some users believed the information to be true, while others rejected it.
Truth Behind the Release of Jowie Irungu
To verify the claims circulating on social media, The Kenya Times conducted a quick spot check.
In the gazette notice listing the 57 released prisoners, there was a reference to an individual named Joseph Irungu Maina, listed as inmate number 22.
However, Jowie Irungu, who was convicted in the murder of Monicah Kimani, is actually named Joseph Irungu Kuria. The difference in names led to dismissing the news as false.
Also Read: Ruto Reduces Prison Terms of Over 4,700 Offenders
Additionally, the Joseph Irungu pardoned by President William Ruto, listed as inmate 22, number 219, was convicted in 2015.
In contrast, Jowie Irungu, convicted for Monicah Kimani’s murder, was sentenced in 2024, further substantiating the conclusion that claims of his release are untrue.
Joseph “Jowie” Irungu was convicted of the murder of businesswoman Monicah Kimani and sentenced to death on March 13, 2024, by High Court Judge Grace Nzioka in Nairobi.
About the Power of Mercy Act
His conviction stemmed from Kimani’s brutal killing on September 19, 2018, at her Lamuria Gardens apartment in Kilimani, where her throat was slit, and her body was discovered in a bathtub.
The judge cited overwhelming evidence, including Jowie’s possession of a firearm used to subdue Kimani, as well as the calculated nature of the crime, indicating it was committed by someone with a high level of training.
Also Read: Jowie Irungu’s Sister Reveals Father’s Last Wish Before He Died
The Power of Mercy Act of 2011 in Kenya provides a legislative framework that operationalizes Article 133 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, granting the President the authority to exercise mercy toward convicted criminal offenders. This Act outlines a structured process for the President to grant mercy, which may include:
- Substituting a less severe form of punishment
- Remitting all or part of a punishment
- Offering a free or conditional pardon for a convicted offender
- Postponing the execution of a punishment for a specified or indefinite period
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