A Nairobi court dismissed an application by Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara seeking to quash incitement charges filed against her. Senior Principal Magistrate BenMark Ikhubi held that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had acted within the confines of the law and that the charge brought against the MP was valid. The court ruled that the charge sheet meets the necessary legal requirements and that the legislator was in a position to “fathom and adequately discern” the charges. “A charge must be clear and easily understood. As far as possible, technical language should be avoided in the charge sheet…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
A police officer accused of fatally shooting a face mask vendor formally denied the charge before the High Court. Constable Klinzy Baraza Masinde appeared before Justice Kanyi Kimondo on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of Boniface Kariuki Mwangi. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on June 17 outside Imenti House in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), where Baraza is alleged to have shot Mwangi Baraza took plea after Justice Kanyi Kimondo was told by prosecution counsel Vincent Monda that he was fit to stand trial “Mental assessment conducted by government psychiatrist Dr. Priscila Makau, dated…
The High Court will deliver a ruling on September 18, on whether the trial in the Baby Samantha Pendo case will be transferred to the High Court in Kisumu. Lady Justice Margaret Muigai will also issue a decision on an application seeking to compel the enforcement of an arrest warrant against former police officer Mohammed Baa. “I am guided by this record so again, the earlier directions I gave that this file will be placed before the DR criminal division, parties are at liberty to file submissions with regards to both applications and then on July 31, I will take…
A Nairobi magistrate court on Tuesday heard of inconsistencies and irregularities in firearm issuance at the Nairobi Central Police Station during the anti finance bill demonstrations in June 2024. Police Constable Simon Waweru, told senior principal magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo that on June 19, 2024, he was deployed to River Road during the height of the youth-led demonstrations. He reported to the station early that morning, collected a pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition, and patrolled the area throughout the day. However, he admitted he did not sign the arms movement register either when receiving or returning the weapon. Instead, Waweru…
The High Court ruled that spouses do not automatically hold equal rights or beneficial interests in matrimonial property, even when such property is jointly registered. Instead, ownership depends on each spouse’s monetary or non-monetary contribution to the acquisition or improvement of the asset. This was the finding in a judgment delivered, where Henry Nditika Mwaura sought a declaration of fair distribution of a property registered in both his and his former wife’s name in accordance to contribution. The court found that Mwaura had solely financed the purchase and development of the property known as Title Number 19928/4 (Original No. 19928/18/2),…
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Eliud Kipkoech Lagat refuted claims that he resigned from office or acted outside the law in temporarily stepping aside Lagat dismissed the allegations as speculative, misleading, and without legal foundation. In a replying affidavit filed at the High Court, Lagat responded to a petition by Eliud Karanja Matindi that challenges the legality of his temporary exit and the subsequent designation of a replacement. Lagat contended that his decision to take administrative leave on June 16, was lawful and grounded in principles of public accountability. According to Lagat, the leave followed heightened public scrutiny and…
A Kibera magistrate court ordered the Kenyatta National Hospital and Nairobi Women’s Hospital to avail medical records of a 29 year old man suspected of having committed two murders at Kenyatta National Hospital. Principal magistrate Daisy Mutahi also ordered the suspect Kennedy Kalombotole be detained at Kilimani police station until July 29, when the medical report will be availed. Kalombotole was arrested after preliminary investigations linked him to the murder of Edward Mainge Ndegwa at Kenyatta national hospital 7th floor ward 7C on July 17. He is also suspected to have committed another murder on the night of 6th and…
Two prominent East African human rights defenders, Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan lawyer and journalist, and Boniface Mwangi, a renowned Kenyan activist, have filed a petition at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) against the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the Secretary General of the East African Community. In the petition, they are seeking “full accountability” and redress for what they describe as unlawful arrest, inhumane treatment, and deportation while attempting to attend the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The suit, filed as reference No. 21 of 2025, follows a sequence of events on May 18–19, 2025,…
A Magistrates Court in Nairobi found nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba guilty of defaming the Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye through unsubstantiated claims of sexual harassment made on social media. In a judgment delivered by Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho, the court ruled that Orwoba’s posts on her WhatsApp status, Facebook page, and X (formerly Twitter) accusing the Senate Clerk of making sexual advances were defamatory, malicious, and unsupported by evidence. The court awarded Nyegenye, who serves as the Clerk of the Senate and Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission, Sh8 million in general damages and an additional Sh2.5 million in exemplary…
An urgent application was Monday filed in court seeking to compel government agencies to produce Hussein Abdirahman Mohamed, an Assistant County Commissioner and Manager at Huduma Centre in Wajir. He disappeared on July 8, 2025. In the petition, Mohammed’s lawyer Danstan Omari described his disappearance as “mysterious and deeply concerning.” Omari now wants the court to direct the relevant authorities to present Mohamed before the court by July 14. He alleged that there is credible reason to believe that the missing public servant is being held incommunicado and that the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director…
The High Court dismissed a petition challenging the legality of the selection and nomination of the new Chairperson and Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The court however quashed their formal appointments for having been made in violation of court orders. In a ruling delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili (presiding), Justice John Chigiti SC, and Justice Bahati Mwamuye found that Gazette Notice No. 7724 and No. 7725, both dated June 10, were published in contravention of interim conservatory orders issued by the court on May 29. The notices had formally appointed Erastus…
The High Court Wednesday issued orders restraining the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja from mounting barricades, erecting roadblocks, or restricting access to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and its surrounding streets without issuing prior notice. Justice Lawrence Mugambi directed that members of the public must be given timely advisories ahead of any planned or emergency barricading to allow for adequate planning of their activities. The order will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the application. “Pending the hearing and determination of this application, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the first respondent the inspector…
The High Court certified as urgent a petition seeking to stop the construction of a multi-billion shilling megachurch at the State House Complex in Nairobi. The petitioner is challenging the construction of the church which is allegedly valued at Sh1.2 billions on grounds that it is being carried out on public land, without public participation or parliamentary approval, and risks violating constitutional provisions, including the doctrine of separation of church and state. “If the construction is allowed to progress, there is an eminent risk of a gross dilution of the Constitutional dictates on religion and the rise of religious tension…
Human rights advocate and lawyer, Shadrack Wambui, moved to the High Court seeking anticipatory bail, claiming that he is facing imminent arrest by state security agencies acting on political instructions. In an urgent application filed through his lawyer, Danstan Omari, Wambui alleges that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are part of a larger scheme aimed at intimidating and silencing him over his civic activism, particularly his role in a peaceful protest held on June 25, in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado North Constituency. According to court documents, Wambui believes that his intended arrest is…
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed a petition seeking the immediate release of a missing activist, who was allegedly abducted by plain-clothed police officers last week in Kinoo. In the urgent application filed, the court is being asked to issue immediate habeas corpus orders compelling top security officials to immediately produce Ndiangui Kinyangia, who was reportedly abducted on June 21, 2025, in Kinoo. According to court documents, Kinyagia was abducted on June 21, 2025, by masked individuals driving unmarked Subaru vehicles with distorted number plates. He was reportedly taken from his residence at 1313 Apartments along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.…