As police continue to probe Citizen TV anchor Jacque Maribe over the killing of Monica Kimani at an apartment in Kilimani Nairobi, what has not escaped media watchers is the fact that the Royal Media Services-owned station has all but abandoned her. [After this article, Royal Media channels started referring to her as Citizen TV anchor]
In its news bulletins, anchors and reporters have variously been referring to her as journalist, TV anchor and TV journalist without indicating any association with her despite the fact that no offence has been framed against her so far with police still investigating whether she knew her fiancé Joseph Irungu, who is the prime suspect, committed the offence and then tried to cover up for him by falsifying his alibi and how and where he sustained a bullet wound on his chest.
On Monday, a Kiambu court ordered that she be detained at Gigiri Police Station until October 11 to allow police to conclude their investigations, which would include a forensic analysis of items found in her house at Royal Park Estate in Lang’ata. She is likely to be charged with being an accessory to the murder and possession of firearms.
If true, it will not be the first time Royal Media Services is throwing one of its own under the bus for attracting negative publicity. Early this year, Swahili news anchor Swaleh Mdoe was removed from his role as Acting Managing Editor, Swahili, after he went public seeking to sell one of his kidneys to settle bank debts. This is after he refused to disown the appeal as instructed by his seniors. He was subsequently replaced by former NTV anchor, Jamila Mohammed.
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Maribe, a former actress in the Constant Gardener (2005), joined Citizen TV in 2012 after stints at K24 and Kiss TV. She is a Political Affairs Reporter and anchors prime time news on Fridays.
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