Businessman Kassim Jiraw aka Sokorow who was murdered after paying bribe to secure a chief officer job in Kilifi county.
A former Kilifi County government employee facing a murder charge has admitted receiving Sh150, 000 from a job seeker, describing it as “a token of appreciation.”
Eddlied Mandi Jilani told the High Court in Mombasa that she accepted the money from businessman Isaac Kassim Jiraw, popularly known as Sokoro, who was later murdered after failing to secure a county job as Chief Officer for Devolution, Public Service and Disaster Management.
“That was the only money I received from Jiraw. It was a token of appreciation for helping him meet the then Kilifi County Public Service Board chairman, Mr James Mulewa,” Ms Mandi testified.
She insisted her role ended after facilitating a meeting between Mr Jiraw, his brother Abbas Mohamed, and Mr Mulewa at the county offices.
“I did not send anyone to pick up Jiraw in Mombasa. I had no reason to harm him,” she said, distancing herself from the gruesome killing.
Three suspects Makonde Ruwa Buni, Ngira Karisa and Eddlied Mandi Jilani (centre) appear befre a Mombasa High Court on September 17, 2018 over the murder of businessman Isaac Kassim Jiraw.
Ms Mandi is charged alongside Makonde Ruwa Buni and Ngira Charo Karisa. The court has already ruled that the three have a case to answer over the murder, which took place on March 18, 2018.
Mr Jiraw was strangled to death, his body doused in sulphuric acid, and dumped in Arabuko Sokoke Forest in Malindi.
Mr Mulewa also testified, confirming that the deceased and his brother had visited his office. He recalled that Ms Mandi first approached his secretary in June 2017, requesting to see him on official grounds.
“She told me she had friends who wanted to discuss employment matters. I gave her an appointment for the next day, when she came with Jiraw and Mohamed,” Mr Mulewa said.
A panoramic view of Arabuko-Sokoke forest. Businessman Isaac Kassim Jiraw was strangled to death, his body doused in sulphuric acid, and dumped in Arabuko-Sokoke forest.
During that meeting, Mr Jiraw expressed interest in the chief officer position.
He was advised to wait for the formal advertisement, which was published in January 2018. He applied, was shortlisted and interviewed, but failed to secure the job after scoring below 60 per cent. The position eventually went to Mohamed Abdullahi Adan.
“I wish to state that Mr Jiraw never gave me any money to influence the board members,” Mr Mulewa told the court.
In her defence, Ms Mandi confirmed arranging the meetings but denied involvement in the events that followed. She said she first met Mr Jiraw through Mohamed, who sought her help in facilitating access to Mr Mulewa.
“After I facilitated their entry into Mr Mulewa’s office, I left them to talk. They were told to wait for the advertisement and submit hard copies of their applications,” she said.
She added that although Mr Jiraw later informed her that he had submitted his application, they did not meet. He contacted her again when he was shortlisted, asking for accommodation ahead of his interview.
Weeks later, she said, Mr Jiraw phoned from Nairobi, claiming he had linked up with influential Kilifi County Assembly members who promised to help him secure the position. He told her he would travel to Kilifi to meet them and update her afterwards.
Eddlied Mandi Jilani (left ), Makonde Ruwa Buni and Ngira Karisa Charo when they appeared before Mombasa court on April 9, 2019. They are charged with the murder of businessman Kassim Jiraw, also known as Sokorow.
“That was the last time we spoke. Days later, Mohamed contacted me to say his brother had been found murdered,” Ms Mandi said.
She denied speaking to Mr Jiraw on his way to Kilifi and refuted police claims that she owned a Toyota Mark X.
However, prosecution evidence has placed Ms Mandi at the centre of the crime, alleging she procured Ruwa and Charo to pick up Mr Jiraw in Nyali, Mombasa, before strangling him and dumping his body in the forest. Forensic evidence has tracked the suspects’ movements between Malindi and Mombasa, linking them to the murder.
Investigators believe Mr Jiraw was strangled inside a car occupied by Ms Mandi, Ruwa, Charo and a fourth suspect who escaped arrest.
Both Ruwa and Charo have denied involvement, claiming they neither knew the deceased nor participated in the killing.
The three suspects now await the court’s verdict on whether they are guilty of murder.
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