- Jacque Maribe was a leading Citizen TV news anchor
- Her career ended abruptly when she, alongside her lover, were implicated in the murder of Monica Kimani
Life has many twists and turns. One minute you seem to have everything under control. Your career is on an upward trajectory. Your friends are who is who in the society. As you get comfortable, everything you have worked hard for comes crumbling down like a house of cards. Former Citizen news anchor Jacque Maribe’s story, at least one chapter of her yet to be completed book, fits that introduction.
Here is her story as told by WoK.
Early Life
The ex-TV siren was born on 18 December to Mr. and Mrs. Maribe Mwangi. Her year of birth is not in the public domain. She was a student at State House Girls School before joining University of Nairobi where she graduated with a degree in journalism.
In 2005, Maribe played Wanza Kiluhu in the award winning film the Constant Gardener. She went on to join K24 TV in 2009 for a period of two years as a senior political reporter. She joined Radio Africa Group from December 2011 to October 2012 as a political affairs reporter. She worked at Citizen TV from 2012 before her unexpected resignation in 2018.
Motherhood
Working for Citizen TV gave her some sort of stability lacking in some media houses. The media personality gave birth to a bouncing boy who is named Zahari on 14 May 2014. She was romantically involved with comedian Eric Omondi and the relationship seems to have been rekindled towards the end of 2019.
Omondi told a leading media news outlet of his relationship with the mother of his son:
Tulikutana na Jacque Maribe akiwa anafanya hapa. Mimi nilikuwa nafanya Radio Jambo, yeye alikuwa anafanya Kiss TV. Alikuwa reporter Kiss TV. Tukapatana tukakuwa marafiki sana. Tukaenda date pale Java Sarit Center. Tukawa marafiki na mimi nikatoka hata yeye akatoka akenda Citizen. Since then were tight.
We’re the best of friends na sisi tunajiambia kila siku whatever happens, we’ll remain best of friends. Tunajikumbusha kila siku. She’s a true friend…” loosely translated: (I met Jacque Maribe when she was working here.
I was working at Radio Jambo while she was working at Kiss TV as a reporter. We became friends and that’s how we started dating. We have remained best friends and have always reminded ourselves that we will be best friends)
To remove any doubts of Eric being the father of Zahari, Maribe shared this on social media:
“Family first. Happy graduation day Zahari. We, mum and dad @ericomondi are proud of you!!”
Turbulent Relationship
If Maribe had the power to turn back the arms of time, she would not have dated Joseph Irungu ‘Jowie’.
The fun loving, then 28 year old man with killer looks, was accused being behind the murder of business woman Monica Nyawira at Lamuria Gardens apartment, in Kilimani Estate.
Maribe was accused of being an accessory leading to her arrest. From reading news to becoming a newsmaker herself, Maribe’s name was dragged in the mud and it did not come as a surprise when CitizenTV decided to cut her off.
Her father stood by her through thick and thin. Ex-Director of Digital Communication in the Office of the president Dennis Itumbi defined what friendship is all about.
Maribe was released from remand on Ksh1 million cash bail and was granted an alternative of Ksh2 million bond or three sureties of a similar amount.
Itumbi was always present when Maribe appeared before the courts. He took to his social media platform to rubbish police accounts linking the TV siren to the murder of Monica.
Citizen TV Issues Maribe Ultimatum
Jacque Maribe was given two options: to either resign or face the sack. She opted for the latter. This warning was issued by one of her bosses after photos of her and Dennis Itumbi in a police station surfaced online. Itumbi had been detained for allegedly authoring a letter alleging a plot by four cabinet secretaries to kill Deputy President, William Ruto.
According to a story published by Kenyans in 2018:
“The bosses felt that she had duped them into giving her time off work. Immediately after pictures of Maribe in the company of Itumbi at Muthaiga police cells went viral, one of the bosses called her on phone and asked her to either resign or face the sack.”
Political aspiration
Jackie had plans of vying for the Muranga county Woman Representative seat in the 2022 general elections. Speaking to Tuko, the journalist said she had seen gaps in the current leadership that she will address.
She told the online publication, ”
“If people say I should go for the seat, who am I to refuse? You know I was a political reporter for many years and as a reporter, you get to see leadership gaps that can easily be addressed….”
New job
The former TV siren was acquitted acquitted in the murder of Nairobi businesswoman Monica Kimani over lack of evidence.
This has not only been the good news for the the former Citizen TV news anchor. She was appointed as the head of communications at the Public Service Ministry, headed by Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.
