Joseph Irungu alias Jowie has filed a notice of appeal to the decision of High Court Judge Grace Nzioka who sentenced him to death for the 2018 murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani.

Jowie through lawyer Andrew Muge says he intends to be present at the hearing of the appeal to challenge both the conviction and also the sentence.

“Take notice that Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie appeals to the Court of Appeal against the decisions of the Honourable Lady Justice Grace Nzioka delivered in open court at Milimani, Nairobi on the 9th day February 2024 and in her written judgment dated 9th February 2024 whereby the Appellant was convicted of Murder and sentenced to death on 13th March 2024,” read the notice of Appeal.

Jowie was given the maximum sentence of death after he was found guilty of killing Monica Kimani in 2018.

Justice Grace Nzioka ruled that the horrific murder of Monica Kimani was intentional, planned, intended and executed by Jowie.

“Based on everything I have said, I have ordered that the first accused person, being Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie, shall suffer death as provided for the offense of murder under Section 204 of the Penal Code of Kenya,” ruled the Judge.

The Judge ruled that Jowie was ineligible for rehabilitation as it wouldn’t serve the purpose.

“A non-custodial sentence serves the purpose of providing an accused person with an opportunity for rehabilitation. Is this accused person eligible for rehabilitation? My answer was in the negative, for the simple reason that a person who is given rehabilitation must first and foremost acknowledge the commission of the offense and the need to reform. Without that attitude, there will be no need to consider rehabilitation,” she ruled.