A Nairobi court Wednesday directed a former spokesman of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Salim Swaleh to take plea. Swaleh who was the Press Secretary is accused of Sh5.8 million fraud. Milimani Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi slated the matter on August 21, after lawyer Danstan Omari made an application to have Swaleh and four other accused persons appear next week for plea taking following the Director of Public Prosecution’s decision to charge them. Prosecutor James Gachoka on August 5, told the court that the accused persons wrote to the DPP seeking to have the charges levelled against them reviewed. The…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has been ordered to pay damages amounting to Sh1,050,000 to a former National Youth Service officer for releasing him from the recruit training school solely based on his HIV status. The HIV and AIDS Tribunal ruled that the move by the defence forces was discriminatory and a violation under Section 31 of the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act. It further held that KDF ought to have applied to the tribunal to obtain an exemption from the provisions of section 31(1) and demonstrated that the job in question required specific health or medical or…
A Nairobi court will on August 12, rule whether to allow the police to detain two suspects for 14 days to facilitate investigations into a case involving suspected hand grenades and unlicensed communication gadgets. The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) through Corporal Andrew Njagi asked Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi to detain Dancan Odhiambo Otieno and Calvin Ochieng Odongo who were intercepted along Muthaiga Road trying to enter house number 44. The house belongs to businessman Jimi Wanjigi. Njagi said the two were arrested after being traced from Nairobi Central Business District (CBD). “Upon being intercepted the driver managed to escape…
Two petitioners Friday challenged the appointment of the 19 Cabinet Secretaries by president William Ruto. The Kenya Human Rights Commission and Wanjiri Gikonyo argued that there was no meaningful public participation adding that the selecting criteria were not provided to the public beforehand, leaving them unaware of how the National Assembly’s appointments committee made its decision. They argued that Parliament received memoranda that were never disclosed to the public in advance, and the criteria for their acceptance or rejection were determined in secrecy, without public accountability. “Despite the vetting process having been initiated by the National Assembly, the parameters for…
Former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya has threatened to institute legal suit against Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission CEO Twalib Mbarak should he fail to retract a letter written to the clerk of National Assembly expressing reservations over his nomination to the cabinet. Oparanya accused Mbarak of blatant abuse of office in maliciously targeting him for ulterior motives. In a letter on Friday August 2, the Cabinet Secretary nominee said, Mbarak should cease and desist from harassing him with unsubstantiated threats of corruption charges. “It is our instruction to demand, which we hereby do that you retract or cause to be…
A group wants the president and deputy president’s tenure terminated through a popular vote in a referendum. In a petition lodged before a Nairobi court under certificate of urgency the Kenya Bora Tuitakayo Citizens Association has accused the government of incompetence in addressing the country’s challenges and subsequent declining legitimacy of the presidency to steward the affairs of the Kenyan state and nation. The association has also accused president William Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua of violating the right to life, safety and human dignity during the anti-government protests. The petitioners say they are seeking judicial intervention to “prevent the current…
An activist wants all online platforms selling tobacco products, including shisha, that lack health warning labels and graphics be suspended. Fredrick Bikeri also wants online sales and distribution of the tobacco derived products and smoking in areas without health warnings and in public vehicles be prohibited. In the petition lodged before the high court under a certificate of urgency, Bikeri says the absence of health warnings on social media, websites, online stores, and other public platforms breaches Kenyans’ right to information under Article 35 of the Constitution. He says this is especially critical regarding the harmful effects of tobacco products…
A Nairobi anti corruption court on Friday released high-ranking officials and staff in the state department for correctional services on a cash bail of Sh4 million. The six who include the Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management Services, the Senior Accountant, Chief Finance Officer, several Accountants and a cleaner appeared before principle magistrate Celessa Okire and denied 68 counts of graft related charges. Mageto Omari, Sarah Kemunto, Moses Sirengo, Jack Ogao, Eric Mutai and Maureen Mwikya were jointly accused of conspiring to defraud the government of Sh301,908,000. They are alleged to have authorized payments for goods never supplied to the…
The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has distanced itself from allegations of attacking the burgeoning creative industry in the county. KFCB Chief Executive Officer Paskal Opiyo says in affidavit dated July 17 the board is merely exercising its statutory rights by “implementing the provisions of the film and stage play act, chapter 222, laws of Kenya and not introducing any new mandate”. KFCB issued demand letters on May 22, to content creators including Timothy Kimani alias Njugush, Jackie Vike alias Awinja, Ben Cyco, Eunice Mammito, Makarios Ouma also known as Mwafreeka, Oga Obinna, Abel Mutua, and Terence creative that they…
A group of activists has moved to court to challenge the move to remove Attorney General Justine Muturi from office. It comes days after President William Ruto dismissed all cabinet secretaries and attorney general following a month long peaceful protest. The seven petitioners in their court documents filed at Milimani high court under certificate of urgency, want the court to suspend president Ruto’s decision that dismissed AG Muturi from office “Pending the hearing and determination of this Application and Petition, the Honourable Court be pleased to issue a conservatory order suspending Presidential PRESS RELEASE Statement or/and gazette Notice dated 11th…
The High Court Monday quashed the appointment of Anthony Mwaura as the Chair of the Board of Directors at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The court found his appointment violated public officers’ ethics. Justice Francis Gikonyo held that Mwaura’s appointment on November 18, 2022 as chairperson of KRA board suffered “procedural infirmity and illegality”. Judge Gikonyo noted that the national values and integrity were not adhered to while appointing Mwaura adding that it was inconsistent with the Constitution. The judge further said the termination of the criminal proceedings in his favor long after the appointment did not adorn for an appointment…
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairman David Oginde Thursday called for a bold stand against corruption, urging citizens to outrightly reject corrupt individuals. Speaking on July 11, during the African Union Anti-corruption Day in Nairobi, Oginde said: “It is time that we said no to men and women who are committed to corruption, we should ensure they have no place in our institutions at any level.” “We appreciate the voices of concern, but they mean nothing without personal action,” he said. He urged the members of the public to come forward and report to relevant authorities for action to…
The newly elected director of Tegat tea factory, John Chebochok now wants BBC World Service Group to pay him Sh100 million as compensation for alleged defamation against him. The director also issued a 72- hour ultimatum to the broadcasting to offer an apology and retract the documentary titled Sex for Work: the true cost of our tea which aired on February 17, 2023 without his input. Through his advocate Danstan Omari, Chebochok wants BBC to “cease and desist from publishing any further defamatory episodes/documentaries or statement about him. Chebochok said he will move to court and institute legal proceedings if…
A Milimani Chief Magistrate’s court on July 3, freed 185 demonstrators arrested in Nairobi on personal bonds. Trial magistrate Wandia Nyamu ordered the 18 minors who were among the suspects to be released immediately on a personal bond of Sh10,000 while the rest were released on a personal bond of Sh50,000. While releasing the suspects, Nyamu said that the prosecution did not present a charge or a holding charge to accompany the application. The Director of Public Prosecution through 10 miscellaneous application files petitioned the court to allow them detain the 185 anti-Finance Bill 2024 protesters for 21 days pending…
A Milimani Chief Magistrate’s court on July 3, released four men who allegedly assembled unlawfully and threw stones at anti-riot police officers along Waiyaki way while taking part in the anti-finance bill 2024 demonstrations. The Director of Criminal Investigations through a miscellaneous application sought seven days to detain Henry Oringa, Mike Okoth, Augustin Shikuku and Joram Ndung’u pending investigations into unlawful assembly, obstructing Waiyaki way and throwing stones at anti-riot police officers on July 2. While releasing them trial magistrate Wandia Nyamu held that the investigation officer was on a fishing expedition. Nyamu also ruled that the “police should only…