For close to a month, alleged romantic relationship between Jacque Maribe and State House Digital Communication Director Dennis Itumbi has dominated both social and mainstream media.
Even as she faced trying moments following arrest over links to Monica Kimani's murder, Maribe, who was freed from Lang'ata Women Prison on Wednesday, did not lose her trusted lieutenant, Dennis Itumbi.
Throughout his interviews, Itumbi has maintained that their love is plutonic, contrary to what conspiracy theorists allude to.
In an interview with The Standard, Itumbi revealed how he informed Jacque Maribe at Lang'ata Women Prison in presence of her parents that people are claiming he wants to win her back.
He describes her as a dear friend despite the chemistry, body language, deep smiles and knowing looks that paint a picture of lovebirds.
“By the way, last weekend, I told her, as her very supportive father and mother listened, 'people are saying I am trying to win you back'…”
And Maribe's response was quite telling. “Tell them, we share a soul. Something deeper than love, a friendship that words can only spell but not explain,” she responded.https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001301121/maribe-my-relationship-with-itumbi-is-deeper-than-love.
At the court even in presence of Maribe's co-accused and fiance Joseph Irungu, Itumbi would be seen hugging her unmoved, leading to criticism that he was trying to take advantage of the situation.
When Jacque Maribe was released of Sh1 million bail awaiting trial next year June, Itumbi was among the team that worked on paperwork to secure her release.
"Jacque Maribe, has just driven out the gates of Langata Womens Prison.Home, sweet home.Thanks for maombi," he wrote.https://twitter.com/OleItumbi/status/1057661515963265024?s=19.
In 2015, the two were widely rumoured to be an item, a claim both have persistently dismissed as cheap propaganda.