A businessman has denied having had a sexual relationship with the late Monica Kimani in the ongoing murder trial of Joseph Irungu alias Jowie and former Citizen TV reporter Jackie Maribe.
Antony Kariuki Kaaka while being cross-examined by Prof.Hassan Nandwa who is representing Jowie declined any intimate relationship with the slain business lady saying they were just friends.
Kariuki is alleged that on September 19, 2018, before Monica’s death he received a message from her that read; “come help me sleep”
While narrating the occurrences before the death of the businesswoman to court, Kariuki said he met Monica at a traditional wedding in Nyeri.
He said Monica was then in the company of a man identified as Jimmy who later told him he worked in South Sudan together with Monica.
After the function, the two kept in touch until her return back to Kenya from South Sudan.
She then called him on September 19 to inform him that she had arrived in Kenya at around 6.00 pm and was in her residence at Lemaria Gardens along Kitale lane off Dennis Pritt road.
Upon her arrival, Monica asked Kariuki to buy her food which he did by wiring Ksh 2000 to her through Mpesa to pay for the bill which was Ksh1600.
Later that day at 9:11 pm he says he received a text from Monica which stated ‘hope utakuja‘ and later called her to inform her he is on his way.
“As I had promised her, I went to her place. It was about 9:30 pm on arrival,” he told the court.
Upon arrival at her residence, the watchman let him in and he later called Monica while still at the parking lot.
“She came at the parking and we hugged and talked for about five minutes before asking me to excuse her since she had visitors- a Libabese neighbour and a statehouse security personnel,” he added.
He claims after that they parted and he drove off to his residence.
On the same day at about 11:26 pm, he claims he received a message from Monica that read “Come help me sleep” to which he replied and told her that he would come the next day.
On the following day, September 20, 2018, at about 1:31 pm he received a WhatsApp missed call from his friend Willis, and later at 1:34 pm, Willis sent him a message on Whatsapp which read “Sorry I have some sad news Monix is no more. So sad indeed.”
The hearing of the murder case will proceed on September 29, 2021.
