A magistrate at the Kahawa Law Courts allowed the defence team representing TikToker Shadrack Omondi Okindo, popularly known as Hon. Mosquito, to cross-examine the investigating officer in a case where the prosecution is seeking to detain him for 14 days pending further investigations. Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Koech issued the ruling following an application by Omondi through his lawyers. The defence, led by lawyers Andrew Muge and Babu Owino, sought to challenge specific parts of the affidavit filed in support of the miscellaneous application to detain Okindo. The affidavit was sworn by Police Constable Milton Rugare. “The respondent has given…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
A petition was filed in the High Court seeking to block the enactment of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on grounds that it fundamentally alters the country’s governance structure and must be subjected to a referendum. In the petition filed by lawyer Paul Mwangi, the court is being asked to determine whether key provisions of the Bill touch on matters that fall under Article 255(1) of the Constitution, provisions which would constitutionally require public approval through a national referendum. The contested Bill, co-sponsored by MPs Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), proposes several changes to governance and…
Former presidential aspirant Dr. Reuben Kigame filed a petition seeking to privately prosecute top Kenyan government officials over what he terms as state-sanctioned crimes against humanity committed during the Gen Z-led protests of 2024 and 2025. In the petition filed at the High Court, Dr. Kigame accused the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, senior officials of the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), as well as the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Attorney General, of failing to…
The High Court in Thika ordered the release of 42 protestors who were arrested during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025, in Juja, Kiambu County, after finding the bail terms earlier imposed by a magistrate to be unaffordable. Instead, the court ordered that all 42 applicants, including the 19th applicant who is a minor, be released on a bond of Sh100,000 with one surety or a cash bail of Sh30,000. “The terms imposed should not be such that it amounts to denial of constitutional right to bail pending trial,” ruled the court. In the ruling delivered virtually, Lady…
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…
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…