Matatu owners whose vehicles have been impounded and registration number plates confiscated now want the road safety director DR. Andrew Kiplagat jailed for six months for disobeying court orders. In the petition filed under certificate of urgency, Nganya Association also want DR. Kiplagat to appear in court to explain why he should not be cited for contempt of court after allegedly failing to comply with court orders issued on February 3. High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye issued orders directing the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to release all impounded vehicles and return their confiscated registration plates pending hearing and…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
The High Court has struck out a petition filed against the US multinational food giant Delmonte over accusations of killings and assault at its vast pineapple plantation. High Court Judge Lady Justice Florence Muchemi while striking out the petition held that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter. Muchemi further dismissed an application seeking to amend the petition ruling that the application lacks merit. “This court declared itself that it lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition,” ruled the court. “Being a public interest matter as it sounded to the court after perusal of documents ,…
The decision to block protests in Nairobi’s CBD is unconstitutional, a court ruled. High Court judge Justice Bahati Mwamuye also held that it fails to meet the constitutional threshold. Mwamuye ruled that the directive by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja that sought to impose limitations on the exercise of Article 37 of the Constitution, was overly broad, blanket, and omnibus in nature and did not satisfy the requirements outlined in Article 24 of the Constitution. Justice Mwamuye further quashed the press statement dated July 17, 2024, issued by Kanja, declaring it unconstitutional and invalid. The directive had banned all…
The former Nairobi Regional Commander, Adamson Bungei Wednesday distanced himself from the alleged police killings that occurred during the Gen Z protests on the night of June 20, 2024 Bungei insisted that no gunfire took place that night. Bungei told senior principal magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo that it is not only police officers who have access to firearms adding that he only heard about the death of Rex Maasai from the then Central sub county commander. “Shooting does not mean that it’s only the police officer who shoot, unless the police are aware, we cannot confirm a situation,” Bungei said. “The…
It is a big win for Matatu owners in Nairobi after the High Court ordered the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to release all impounded vehicles and return their confiscated registration plates. Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued the directive pending hearing and determination of the case filed by Nganya Association. “Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the application, a conservatory order is hereby issued directing NTSA to return all confiscated registration plates to the affected matatus and release the impounded vehicles, unless they are lawfully held under a valid court order,” reads the order. The matatu owners moved…
A US-based businesswoman wants the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Renson Ingonga to formally charge a Kenyan money transfer executive over an alleged fraud scheme involving over Sh27.5 million In the letter addressed to DPP Ingonga, Rahma Abdullah Adam has accused Abdullahi Abdi Hussein, a former branch manager at Taaj Money Transfer of defrauding and leaving her financially and emotionally drained. Rahma Abdullah through her lawyer Danstan Omari, wants the DPP to approve charges against Abdullahi who is out on a bail of Sh100,000 pending investigations after being presented in a Kibera court under a miscellaneous application. She says the…
The High Court Thursday dismissed Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja and DCI boss Mohamed Amin’s application seeking to set aside orders requiring their personal attendance in court over the alleged abduction and disappearance of three men in Mlolongo last year. High Court judge Justice Chacha Mwita consequently ordered the two police bosses to appear in court on January 30. While dismissing the application , Justice Mwita said that the order he issued in January this year was intended to uphold the constitution and enforce the Bill of Rights. “Securing the lives of the three missing men remains a priority…
A court granted Wednesday the police 21 days to detain a man found with his wife’s dismembered body to enable them conduct further investigations. The police had petitioned the court through a miscellaneous application to grant them 21 days to detain John Kyama Wambua at Ruaraka Police Station as they investigate the brutal murder of his wife, Joy Fridah Munani. According to Corporal Kassim Yakub of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Starehe, Wambua is suspected of murdering his wife on January 20, 2025, at their home in the Kasanova area of Huruma. Police claim that during routine patrols, officers…
The Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving the firm of Ahmednasir Advocates LLP due to its previous ruling on recusal. The court said its decision of January 23, 2024, in Petition No. 17 of 2022, where all justices recused themselves from hearing cases filed by the firm remains effective. “The reason for recusal was well-stated, it is because of the senior counsel’s persistent and unsubstantiated attacks with the aim of damaging the reputation of the members of the court,” ruled the court. Chief justice Martha Koome while addressing the plea by a lawyer from Ahmednasir’s firm to represent…
A Kenyan citizen has sued X Corp, the owner of the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter), accusing the company of enabling the spread of harmful and inappropriate content in Kenya. In the petition filed under certificate of urgency, the petitioner claims that the platform is awash with content promoting pornography, hate speech, incitement to violence, and violations of privacy. “The X corp has with the sole end of profiteering allowed, entertained, encouraged, acquiesced in and/or promoted in its social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter) the publication and access in Kenya of content that constitutes hate speech, incitement to violence,…
The High Court Monday ordered the Inspector general of police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Amin to immediately release three men abducted in Mlolongo in December 2024 or present their bodies in court on January 17 at 10am. Justice Chacha Mwita also ordered the two police chiefs to appear in court on Friday without fail. “The IG and the DCI do release the 3 immediately, and unconditionally in the alternative DCI and IG do present bodies of the trio before court on 17th January at 10am in open court. IG and DCI to personally attend court…
The High Court Wednesday ordered the Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Ibrahim Amin to appear in court on January 27, at 9:30 a.m. to give a report on recent abductions High court judge Bahati Mwamuye warned failure to comply with the order could result in sentencing and conviction. This is after the duo failed to personally appear in court on Wednesday following a court order. Their lawyer Paul Nyamodi told the court that IG Kanja was unable to attend court due to an urgent security meeting. Petitioners through their lawyer, Senior Counsel…
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has distanced himself from the recent wave of abductions in the country. He now wants to be expunged from a suit filed by the Law Society of Kenya and another by Senator Okiyah Omtatah, which have named him as a respondent. The CS, who assumed office on December 19, 2024, said his role does not extend to the operational or command functions of the police. According to him, his mandate is limited to policy direction. Murkomen said the constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property lies with the Inspector General of police. Through his lawyer,…
The High Court overturned a 15-year prison sentence imposed on a man accused of defiling a 16-year-old girl High court judge, Justice Antony Ndungu ruled that the complainant’s evidence of having intercourse without details as to what happened does not prove that penetration took place. The court held that she failed to provide clear details to prove penetration, a key element of the offense. While acknowledging the challenges faced by children in articulating details of sexual acts due to their developmental stages affecting their ability and willingness to describe the organs and acts, Ndungu said evidence must still be precise…
A section of leaders want the government to stop what they termed as exportation of labor. They also want the government to create a humble environment to enhance creation of more jobs. They spoke at an event on Friday December 14 where over 200 Westwick Medical College students graduated. Speaking during the event at the Lord Errol hotel, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya urged the government to use skilled graduates in the country to help boost the economy and reduce the rate of unemployment. “I fault the government for exporting labour from the country to other countries, for instance I…