The High Court Wednesday extended orders barring the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from proceeding with petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Martha Koome and other Supreme Court judges. The other supreme court judges shielded from the ongoing proceeding before the JSC are Justices Isaac Lenaola, Smokin Wanjala, William Ouko, and Njoki Ndung’u. Justice Lawrence Mugambi further directed all parties to file their responses to an application seeking the formation of a bench to hear the case. However, this decision was met with objections from lawyers Nelson Havi and Ahmednasir Abdullahi. “This is a circus your honour. We reject these…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
A Children’s Court in Milimani sentenced 74-year-old Dutch national Jan in’t Veld to 10 years in prison for exposing minors to pornographic material. Magistrate Dr. Joyce Macharia also ordered Jan also known as “Dad,” “Teacher Jan,” and “Mzungu,” to pay Sh1 million in compensation to each of the three victims. Upon completing his sentence, he will be deported to the Netherlands. In’t Veld was convicted on 10 counts of child abuse after being arrested in December 2023 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while attempting to flee the country. During the trial, digital forensic experts presented evidence of explicit WhatsApp conversations…
A petition was Tuesday filed at High Court of Mombasa challenging Kenya Power and Lighting Company’s (KPLC) decision to disconnect electricity supply to critical services in Nairobi County. The services include hospitals, water pumping stations, street lighting, garbage collection, and fire stations. The petition filed under certificate of urgency, argues that the move is unconstitutional and endangers public safety. Charles Waithaka Rubia through his lawyer Elkana Mogaka, claims that KPLC, bypassed legally mandated dispute resolution mechanisms before cutting off power. According to Mogaka, KPLC acted under the directive of energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to cut off power in Nairobi…
The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Lands in Kwale risks being jailed after the Environment and Land Court issued orders barring the county government from interfering with a disputed piece of land in Diani. Justice Lucas Naikuni warned that failure to comply with the ruling could lead to contempt of court charges, detention, or other penalties. The orders were granted following an application filed by Building Fire Consultants Co. Ltd on February 6, accusing county officials of unlawful interference with the property. The court, which has certified the matter as urgent has restrained the county government, its agents, and…
A Nairobi Chief Magistrate court will on March 4, rule whether it will allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) application seeking to detain a police officer attached to the VIP protection unit at Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa over murder. The constable of police is linked to the fatal shooting of a fellow officer in Ruaraka and the DCI wants him be detained pending hearing and determination. Police constable Ezekiel Kipkoech Tarus is suspected of fatally shooting police constable Raphael Kimuli Wambua, a police officer attached to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). The incident reportedly took place on February…
A Nairobi Chief magistrate court Monday allowed the Director of Criminal Investigations to detain two suspects linked to the murder of a British national, whose body was discovered dumped in Makongo Forest, Makueni County. Alex Mutua Kithuka and Albinus Mutinda Nzioki were arrested on March 1, in connection with the killing of Campbell Scott Alistair, a British businessman who had been reported missing. “The application meets the requirements of the constitution,the two to be held in police custody for a period of 21 days as sought,” magistrate Lukas Onyina ruled. The DCI sought to hold the suspects for 21 days…
A Milimani chief magistrate court on Wednesday released senior manager at a Nairobi-based printing firm accused of stealing over sh254 million on bail. Cheekati Narasimha Rao, an Indian national is accused of committing the crime between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2024, while working at Printing Services Limited. He allegedly conspired with others to unlawfully take Sh254,461,768. In addition to theft, Rao faces a second charge of forgery under Sections 345 and 349 of the Penal Code. He is accused of forging the signature of Malikiat Singh Dhillon on April 1, 2010, in an attempt to fraudulently secure a…
The High Court halted the revocation of Prof. Amukowa Anangwe’s appointment as Chairperson of the Council of the University of Nairobi. Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued the temporary orders pending the hearing and determination of an application filed challenging gazette noticed that revoked Anangwe’s appointment Prof Anangwe who has sued Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, argued that the decision was unlawful. Anangwe through his lawyer Abdirazak Mohamed, alleged that the Universities Act does not grant the CS the authority to interfere with the management of the University Council. In the ruling, the court restrained CS Ogamba from implementing Gazette Notice No.…
The Court of Appeal will on March 21, rule whether it will suspend the High Court judgement that declared the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya alliance as the bonafide majority alliance in the National Assembly. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula wants the three-judge bench to temporarily suspend the judgment that overturned his decision that declared Kenya Kwanza coalition led by President William Ruto as the majority party on October 6, 2022 pending hearing and determination of the appeal. Wetangula through his lawyer Elisha Ongoya, argued that the ruling has confused Parliament, disrupting its ability to function effectively.…
The Supreme Court judges got a reprieve after the High Court prohibited the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from directing Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, and five other Supreme Court judges to respond to petitions filed against them. The Narok High Court also stopped the JSC from continuing with charges or proceedings against the Supreme Court judges pending hearing and determination of the application. Justice Charles Kariuki issued the ruling after certifying an application as urgent after establishing a prima facie case on the same. The court granted Pariken Ole Esho leave to file judicial review proceedings…
Former Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu moved to the High Court seeking to overturn his sentencing of 12 years in jail. The anti-corruption court February 13, sentenced Waititu alongside his wife Susan Wangari and their married couple associates involved in a road business. Waititu was sentenced to 12 years in prison or a fine of Sh53.5 million after being found guilty of four counts under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, including conflict of interest in a Sh588 million graft case. He moved to the High Court seeking to be released on reasonable bail and bond terms pending the hearing…
A Nairobi Milimani court issued a warrant of arrest against a senior security manager at East African Development Bank of Kenya (EADB). The warrant is to run for 24 hours pending service of a High Court order stopping the proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court. Senior principal magistrate Dolphina Alego issued the warrant after Isaac Nyongesa Okwara failed to appear in court for plea taking on Tuesday February 11. Chief Magistrate Susan Shitumbi had issued summons on January 28, against Nyongesa who is accused of providing false information to the police regarding former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju and ordered him to…
A court in Nairobi ruled that entities or shylocks not licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) cannot participate in court proceedings until they obtain the necessary approvals. The Milimani Small Claims Court ruled that unlicensed financial entities cannot enforce claims until they secured proper regulatory certification. Magistrate Kiongo Kagenyo in his ruling, found that M-Collect Limited, along with five other companies Kalita System Debt Holding Kenya Limited, Garnet Portfolio Management Limited, Aventus Technology Limited, Sirius Collect Limited, and Maxlex-Finance Limited had been filing multiple claims but failing to pursue them to conclusion. Kiongo subsequently dismissed 139 related cases…
The Environment and Land court in Kwale has certified as urgent a contempt of court application against Kwale county’s Executive committee (CEC) member for lands and county Attorney over alleged disobedience of court orders issued on February 3. Judge Lucas Naikuni also ordered the defendant/applicant to serve the county land CEC and attorney with the application and all supporting documents. Upon being served the county officials have seven days to file their responses. Building Fire Consultants Company Limited through their lawyer Elkana Mogaka moved to court after the County Government of Kwale allegedly trespassed on their properties despite a prior…
A former Murang’a County Procurement Officer told the Anti-Corruption Court that Murang’a County Government entered into a Sh562 million media and publicity services contract with Top Image Media Consultancy Limited, a company allegedly linked to governor Mwangi wa Iria’s wife. James Kamau Kairu who served as the head of procurement during the 2014-2015 financial year, testified that the contract agreement was made on October 21, 2014, and signed on October 23, 2014, between Murang’a County Government and Top Image Media Consultancy Limited. The court heard that the contract was signed on behalf of the county by then County Secretary Patrick…