In a stunning development, fresh reporting has revealed that the Kenyan government secretly handed over Ksh 120 million (about £700,000) to the family of Julie Ward — the British tourist murdered in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in 1988. The payout, reportedly made in 1997 with the assistance of British intelligence, was allegedly meant to soothe pressure on officials and halt any push for a full, transparent inquiry.
According to the reporting, the payment was executed “off the record,” never recorded in official Kenyan government books, and intended to persuade Julie’s father, John Ward, to abandon his relentless fight for accountability.
John Ward had devoted decades — and vast resources — to seeking justice. He spent millions on private investigators, legal efforts, and repeated trips to Kenya.
The payout, according to the sources, was meant to offset expenses incurred by Ward during his investigation. But critics say the real purpose was to suppress scrutiny and protect powerful political interests.
Julie Ward disappeared on September 6, 1988, while on safari at the Maasai Mara. Her charred and dismembered remains were found a week later.
Initial official explanations — that she had died in a wild animal attack, struck by lightning, or even committed suicide — were repeatedly challenged.
The first pathologist to examine her remains, Adel Shaker, later admitted he had been forced to sign a falsified report. His original findings reportedly showed clean blade-like cuts on her bones — strong evidence of murder.
Shaker eventually fled Kenya, claiming he feared for his life.
The chief suspect early on was Jonathan Moi, son of the late former President Daniel arap Moi. Jonathan always denied being anywhere near the reserve at the time of Julie’s death.
Yet according to the recent report, a handwritten statement from a camp official placed Jonathan near the scene — evidence that was reportedly in police files for years, but never acted upon.
Several others — including wardens and rangers — were charged over the years, but every trial ended in acquittal, citing insufficient evidence.
When John Ward died in 2023, he had spent decades (and what sources describe as “millions” of pounds) pursuing justice — but died without seeing anyone convicted.
The alleged payment raises profound ethical and legal questions: was the state effectively bribing a bereaved father to buy silence and obscure the truth?
If true, the move undermines confidence in law enforcement, accountability, and justice for victims — especially those like Julie, whose killers may be connected to powerful elites.
It also reinforces longstanding suspicions that the case was never meant to be fully solved: by burying evidence, silencing challengers, and burying the paper trail.
As details surface about this clandestine payout, many are asking: will it finally spark a real, fearless reopening of the case — or will it end up another cover-up sealed with cash?
For the family of Julie Ward — and for all who believe in justice — the answer matters. Even decades later, the shadows over the Maasai Mara murder remain deep. Perhaps this revelation will bring fresh light.
Source: Guardian
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