A Nairobi court has released an activist accused of attempting to extort money from the Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on bail. Francis Awino Onyango appeared before Magistrate Teresa Nyangena, where he denied a charge of attempted extortion by threats. The prosecution told the court that on January 14, 2026 at the Kenya Wildlife Service offices in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi, Onyango allegedly attempted to extort Sh1.7 million from Prof. Erastus Kanga. It is alleged that he threatened to file a petition seeking Kanga’s removal from office over alleged violations of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
The High Court temporarily halted a decision by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) to revoke the accreditation of the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), pending further directions. In orders issued at the Milimani Law Courts, Justice William Musyoka granted KIM leave to commence judicial review proceedings against TVETA’s decision. The judge further directed that the leave operate as a stay, suspending both the revocation and a closure order issued on April 20. “I hereby grant leave… In the meantime, there shall be a stay,” Justice Musyoka ruled. The matter will be mentioned on April 29, 2026…
Lobby group Sheria Mtaani has threatened to move to the High Court to challenge any legislative attempt to transfer prosecutorial powers from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Addressing the media at Milimani Law Courts, the group’s legal representatives Danstan Omari, Shadrack Wambui and Stanley Kinyanjui warned Parliament against pursuing what they described as a potentially unconstitutional move that could destabilize Kenya’s justice system. Omari issued a stern warning to lawmakers, saying that any effort to reassign prosecutorial authority could be challenged immediately in court. “Anybody in Parliament listening, thinking…
One of the three intended interested parties in the Savannah Heights director’s suit has filed an urgent application seeking to be joined in Miscellaneous Criminal Application they argue threatens to reopen issues already settled by a constitutional court. The applicants Donald Kiboro Mwaura, John Gachanga Kaiganaie and Savannah Heights Limited through their lawyers Danstan Omari, argued that their inclusion is necessary to prevent what they describe as an abuse of the court process. At the centre of the dispute is an earlier application by businessman Benson Sande Ndeta, who is seeking to stay criminal proceedings before a Milimani Chief Magistrate’s…
The High Court has dismissed an application by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s Electoral Nomination & Dispute Resolution Committee seeking to suspend a tribunal judgment that reinstated nominated Senator Gloria Magoma Orwoba. In a ruling delivered virtually on April 13, Justice Linus Kassan also threw out a preliminary objection filed by Senator Orwoba, but ruled that the committee had failed to demonstrate substantial loss, making a stay of execution unwarranted. The dispute traces back to May 16, 2025, when the UDA’s disciplinary committee expelled Orwoba from the party. She successfully challenged the decision at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal…
A Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain nine suspects for seven days pending investigations into the murder of a man at a Nairobi nightclub. Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Mutahi on Monday ruled that investigators had presented sufficient grounds to warrant the continued detention of the suspects, who are being treated as persons of interest in the death of 28-year-old Brian Mwendo. According to the miscellaneous application, Mwendo was allegedly assaulted by a nightclub bouncer identified as “Momanyi” at Somer Club in Nairobi’s Central Business District in the early hours of April 4. He…
The Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court issued interim orders restraining Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa from making or publishing any statements deemed defamatory against Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda Busihile. Senior Principal Magistrate Anne Nyoike granted the temporary orders on April 11, 2026, following an urgent application filed by the Woman Representative through her lawyer Danstan Omari. In the ruling, the court allowed an interim injunction prohibiting the Governor, his agents, employees, political associates, or any individuals acting on his behalf from “uttering, publishing, republishing, broadcasting, posting or disseminating” any statements considered false or defamatory concerning the applicant. The court further directed…
The family of Baby Samantha Pendo, together with dozens of victims of the 2017 post-election violence in Kisumu, has moved to the High Court in Kisumu, challenging the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) decision to withdraw charges against eight senior police officers initially accused of crimes against humanity. In a petition filed on April 12, the 50 petitioners, among them 44 survivors of alleged torture and sexual violence, contend that the DPP acted unlawfully in revising the charge sheet and excluding senior commanders from prosecution. Other petitioners include the Law Society of Kenya, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights,…
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) concluded its recruitment process for judges of the High Court and the Environment and Land Court (ELC), nominating a total of 37 candidates. In the exercise, 24 nominees were selected for appointment to the High Court, while 13 were picked for the ELC. The recruitment followed advertisements issued on June 9, 2025, seeking to fill 20 vacancies in the High Court and 10 in the ELC. However, the Commission later expanded the number of positions under Rule 20(2) of the First Schedule to the Judicial Service Act, citing developments that arose during the recruitment period.…
The Court of Appeal reinstated the land ownership of a British national, bringing to a close a decades-long dispute after finding that her Kiambu property had been fraudulently transferred without her consent. In a judgment delivered on April 10, a three-judge bench comprising Daniel Musinga, Joel Ngugi, and George Odunga ruled that Patricia Mary Clark is the lawful owner of the 0.2240-hectare parcel known as L.R. No. Kiambu Municipality/Block III/112. The appellate court found that Clark legally purchased the land in 1994 and never transferred it to any party, dismissing claims that it had changed hands the following year. “The…
A petition lodged before the High Court in Nairobi is seeking the removal of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi over claims he oversaw the irregular importation of substandard fuel into the country. The case, filed by activist Francis Awino, also seeks orders barring Wandayi from performing the functions of his office pending the hearing and determination of the petition. Awino argues that allowing the CS to remain in office poses a risk of further unlawful actions and alleges he has faced intimidation after criticizing the official. At the centre of the dispute is the importation of 68,000 metric…
Kakamega County Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda Bushihile has moved to the Milimani Magistrate’s Court seeking urgent orders to restrain eight individuals from publishing what she describes as false and defamatory content about her on social media. In an application filed under a certificate of urgency through her lawyer Danstan Omari, the legislator accuses the respondents of spreading allegations portraying her as an alcohol abuser and linking her to alleged exploitative conduct with young men at Amanda Resort in Kakamega County. The eight respondents named in the suit are Fabian Musamia, Peter Angatia, Joel Eshkumo, Dennis Weche, Dan Makori Kibwage, Janet…
Four men convicted in a robbery with violence case linked to the 2015 killing of former Kabete MP George Muchai have been sentenced to death by a Nairobi court. Chief Magistrate Lukas Onyina sentenced Eric Muyera Isambwa alias Chairman, Raphael Kimani Gachii alias Kim Butcher, Mustafa Kimani Anyoni alias Musto, Stephen Astiva Lipopo alias Chokore, Jane Wanjiru Kamau alias Shiro and Margaret Njeri Wachiuri over a string of violent robberies connected to the case. The court sentenced Eric Muyera Isambwa alias Chairman, Raphael Kimani Gachii alias Kim Butcher, Mustafa Kimani Anyoni alias Musto and Stephen Astiva Lipopo alias Chokore to…
One of the convicts sentenced to death in the murder trial of George Muchai has indicated through his lawyer that he will appeal the death sentence imposed by Chief Magistrate Lukas Onyina. Danstan Omari, representing Raphael Kimani Gachii alias Kim Butcher, said the mitigation presented on behalf of his client was not given meaningful consideration, describing the process as “academic” since the court stated it could not depart from the statutory sentence. Omari argued that the current legal framework is inconsistent and discriminatory. While convicts of murder can receive reduced sentences following mitigation, those convicted of robbery with violence remain…
Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju was released on a personal bond of Sh100,000 after denying a charge of giving false information to a person employed in the public service. Tuju was charged before the Kibera Law Courts, where the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accused him of giving false information contrary to Section 129(a) of the Penal Code. According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that on March 21, at Entim Sidai Spa and Wellness Sanctuary in Karen, within Lang’ata Sub-county, Tuju informed Karen Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Purity Kobia that he was being…