Julie Ward Murder: How Kenya and UK conspired to conceal crucial evidence, now uncovered in London
A witness statement claiming that Jonathan Toroitich the son of the former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi was in the Maasai Mara at the time of the British Journalist’ death has been found in a London Police strong room
It is now 35 years since young Julie Ward was murdered in the Maasai Mara National Reserve where she was doing what is being described as photographic safari, riding on a small Suzuki SUV.
The body of wildlife photographer Julie Ward, 28, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was discovered on Maasai Mara reserve in September 1988.
Julie was found with most of her body charred, though parts of her left leg, fragments of her jaw, and her skull remained intact.
The UK’s Metropolitan Police, who were invited by then-President Moi to assist in the investigations.
But despite the alleged investigations, no one has ever been convicted of her murder.
Not convinced, Julie’s father, John Ward, spent 2 million pounds of his own money to launch private investigations into his daughter’s killing, but encountered many stumbling blocks in Kenya.
Mr Ward died in 2023 aged 89 fully convinced that Kenya’s first son had a hand in his daughter’s death.
Jonathan Toroitich (JT) the son of former President Daniel Arap Moi always emerged as the prime suspect in the 1988 murder of Julie Ward for reasons yet to be known, but he refuted allegations and stuck to his alibi until his death in 2020.
Now, recently discovered inside the Metropolitan Police safe in Lewisham South East London, is the new evidence, in the form of a witness statement recorded during Julie Ward’s murder investigations in Kenya.
However, the questions are also being raised on why the Scotland Yard detectives who recorded the statement decided to hide it.
International power games
This confirms a long-held suspicion by the Julie Ward’s family that investigations into her death were sabotaged by the Kenyan and the British government to maintain their good diplomatic relations.
The witness stated in part, “I remember Jonathan Moi and his party arrived very late one evening. It was dark and sometime around 10 pm. I remember they arrived in two and three jeeps.”
The Witness insists that Jonathan was indeed at Maasai Mara because the witness greeted Moi.
“I know Jonathan Moi was at Maasai Mara that night and am sure that he was not there for a Safari!‘ the handwritten witness statement reveals.
The following morning, Jonathan Moi and his party left to go into the reserve but for some reason they did not return, which according to the witness was unusual.
However, in another statement, previously, Jonathan Moi defended himself, saying, “I wish to comment that the allegations made against me are totally false and malicious tending to slander me…”
“Throughout the month of September 1988, I was at my farm in Eldama Ravine. I have a farm at Narok, but on that alleged date of 6th September 1988, I was at my farm at Eldama Ravine,” Jonathan maintained.
“I would also state that I have never been at the Masai Mara Game Reserve, but at my farm in Narok,” added Jonathan who also passed away in April 2020.
As far as the son of the former Kenyan President is concerned, he however, indeed heard that a lady tourist went missing within the Masai Mara.
Still, the question which Julie Ward’s family is currently asking is why the London Metropolitan Police decided to hide the witnesses’ statement from them.
Now with Julie’s father dead, Jonathan, as well as his father, the former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi being dead, it is not clear if the truth behind Ms Ward’s death will ever be known.
Jonathan Toroitich Moi was famous for motor rally racing in East Africa.