Makonde Ruwa Buni, Eddlied Mandi Jilani and Ngira Karisa Charo at the High Court in Mombasa on September 17, 2018. File/ Nation Media Group.
When Isaac Kasim Jirow, alias Sokoro, applied for the position of chief officer for devolution, public service, and disaster management in Kilifi County, he had no idea that his application would also lead him to his tragic death.
It all began in June 2017, when Jirow and his friend identified only as Abbas visited the office of Kilifi County Public Service Board Chairman James Mulewa, seeking assistance in securing the chief officer position.
Mr Mulewa recounted these events before the High Court in Mombasa, where three suspects—Eddlied Mandi Jilani, Makonde Ruwa Buni, and Ngira Karisa Charo—are on trial for Jirow’s murder.
Testifying before Justice Wendy Micheni, Mr Mulewa, a former Kenya Ports Authority managing director, detailed how Ms Mandi, then a county driver, requested an official meeting in his office.
“She was allowed in by my secretary. She told me she had friends who wanted to see me regarding employment opportunities. I accepted and scheduled an appointment for the next day,” he testified, guided by State Counsel Ngiri Wangui.
The next morning, Ms Mandi arrived with two men—Abbas and Jirow. Abbas introduced Jirow as a friend seeking a job within the devolved unit.
Mr Mulewa asked for Jirow’s academic documents, which included a Bachelor’s degree in business management and a Master’s degree in human resources management.
Former Kenya Ports Authority Boss James Mulewa, who has been ordered to pay State Sh74.6 million for failing to account for some of assets he owns. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
“I was impressed by his qualifications and advised him to apply once the position was advertised. He was grateful and said he would wait for the advertisement,” he said.
After the meeting, Abbas stayed behind, requesting Mr Mulewa’s assistance in securing the position for Jirow once applications opened.
“I told him we would see when the time comes,” said Mr Mulewa, under cross-examination by defence lawyers led by Jared Magolo.
Abbas continued to communicate with Mr Mulewa until January 2018, when the county finally advertised the positions. “I advised him to check our website for the advertisement. He never contacted me again,” he said.
Jirow was eventually shortlisted and ranked sixth among six candidates scheduled for interviews on February 5, 2018.
On the interview day, two panels were constituted—one chaired by Mr Mulewa for the agriculture and crop husbandry chief officer position, and another chaired by Vice Chair Margaret Mbaraka for the devolution, public service, and disaster management chief officer position.
After the interviews, candidates were asked to await results. Jirow, however, did not score above the 60 percent threshold and was not selected. The board forwarded the successful candidates’ list to then-Governor Amason Kingi for final selection on February 14, 2018.
“Once the list is submitted, my role ends,” said Mr Mulewa.
On March 10, 2018, Mr Mulewa contacted Ms Mandi’s mother who enquired whether he had spoken to her daughter.
“I contacted Ms Mandi, who informed me that Jirow had died. I did not ask how he died, only about the burial date,” he stated.
Investigations later revealed that Jirow had allegedly paid millions in bribes to secure the job but was ultimately left out. A previous witness testified that Jirow had offered a substantial kickback for the job.
Further probe indicates that the deceased met his death while on his way to collect a refund after demanding his money back.
“I wish to state that Jirow never gave me any money to influence the board’s decision,” said Mr Mulewa.
He was interrogated by detectives on March 19, 2018, regarding Jirow’s murder and provided a statement detailing his interactions with the deceased.
The suspects allegedly hired to kill Jirow later recorded confessions implicating Ms Mandi as the mastermind. Although Mr Charo later recanted his confession, court records show that he had initially given a graphic account of how Jirow was lured to his death under Ms Mandi’s instructions.
An advocate, Cleophas Nyameta, who represented Mr Buni in his confession , confirmed in Shanzu Court that a written confession had been recorded on May 11, 2018, before Principal Magistrate Lilian Lewa.
“The suspect was informed of his right to make a confession before a third party and confirmed that he was doing so voluntarily,” said Mr Nyameta.
In his confession, Buni narrated how, on March 8, 2018, Ms Mandi called him, instructing him to pick up a car at Gede stage at 8 am. He then collected Mr Charo before heading to Kilifi to meet Ms Mandi at a club.
There, Ms Mandi handed Mr Buni a mobile phone with a contact number for a Somali guest, later identified as Jirow, whom they were to pick up in Mombasa.
'Spoke privately'
After collecting Jirow from City Mall, they drove toward Malindi. Throughout the journey, Jirow kept updating Ms Mandi on their location. Upon arrival in Malindi , Mr Jirow and Ms Mandi spoke privately before the two returned to the car.
They started the third leg of the journey where they first picked up a fifth person, Katana Karisa, who carried a box. The atmosphere in the car was relaxed, with Ms Mandi and Jirow chatting and laughing, suggesting a long-standing acquaintance.
While traveling, they stopped at Lango Baya, where Ms Mandi stepped out, to allegedly relieve herself. Katana and Charo directed him to continue driving and at that moment, the two who were sitting next to Jirow in the back seat attacked him (Jirow), strangling him with a belt.
After killing Jirow, they stopped at a small café for lunch, leaving his lifeless body in the car. At around 6pm, they continued their journey, eventually stopping in a thicket where Katana retrieved acid from the box and doused Jirow’s body before abandoning it.
On the return journey, the group remained silent, each seemingly lost in thought.
He did not know how Ms Mandi found her way back to Kilifi town. The following day , the three men met Ms Mandi at around the deputy governor’s office, where after a short conversation , Mr Buni was directed to drive to the same spot he was given the car and hand it over to the owner. He was to be contacted at a later date.
“Ms Mandi did not give me any money, I don’t know whether she paid my colleagues or not ,” he said. He was arrested on May 9, 2018.
Mr Charo followed the same script when he confessed and testified before High Court two years ago.
However , the suspects have since opposed the admission of a scene reconstruction video, which includes footage of Charo guiding police officers to crime scenes. They argue that such evidence is inadmissible as it infringes on their right against self-incrimination.
“We submit that the footage should not be admitted at this stage or in later proceedings,” they stated.
The court will rule whether these video footage will be used as evidence against the accused or not.
