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Joseph Irungu alias Jowie during court proceedings on February 9, 2024.
Jowie Irungu, who was sentenced to death for the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani, is now seeking permission to attend the burial of his father.
The father, Julius Irungu, passed on on Saturday, June 15, while receiving treatment.
Irungu’s widow Annastacia Thaama confirmed to the press that her husband had been admitted at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital Annex while battling cancer.
Confirming Julius’s death, Irungu’s lawyer Andrew Muge remarked that they were exploring possibilities of having his client attend his father’s burial.
Aged 64, Julius Irungu was reported to have battled with cancer for many years encompassing most of the time his son was facing murder charges.
This informed why Jowie was flanked only by his mother on March 13, when Lady Justice Grace Nzioka delivered a death sentence to the former private security operative.
In February 2024, the High Court ruled that convicted citizens had the right to attend burials of close family members.
“The right of a prisoner or detained person to a temporary leave of absence to attend the burial or funeral of a close relative is rooted in the principle of humane treatment and inherent dignity as a human being,” the High Court ruled then.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Lawrence Mugambi noted that the right was not absolute and convicts could be denied permission if there were compelling reasons made against the request.
Jowie Irungu will be required to prove that should the request be granted, the burial will not be attended by those hurt by the crime.
In March 2024, Jowie Irungu through his lawyer filed notice to appeal against his conviction and death sentence.
In the notice, Jowie termed the death sentence as cruel and human arguing that it was a degrading form of punishment prohibited under Article 25 of the Constitution.
