The Auctioneers Licensing Board has suspended an auctioneer for six months after finding that he illegally auctioned two trucks belonging to a businessman despite the underlying debt having already been settled. In a ruling delivered at the Milimani Law Courts, the board found that auctioneer Eliud Chai Wambu of Chador Auctioneers unlawfully proceeded with the sale of the vehicles owned by businessman Stephen Nganga Njuguna after the outstanding debt had been cleared. Board chairperson Njeri Thuku ordered Wambu’s suspension from practice for six months and directed him to pay Sh50,000 to the complainant. The board also imposed a Sh100,000 penalty…
Author: Pinnah Mokeira
The High Court in Nairobi has declined to certify as urgent a constitutional petition seeking to stop the payment of more than Sh3 billion to 463 alleged ghost workers in Bungoma County and alleging the existence of a fraudulent litigation syndicate involving advocates, trade union officials, and judicial officers. Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili of the Constitutional and Human Rights Division ruled that the petition and accompanying application filed on April 27, did not demonstrate circumstances warranting immediate intervention by the court. “The petitioners are directed to serve all the respondents and interested parties with the petition and the notice of…
The High Court in Embu dismissed a petition challenging the outcome of the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election, affirming the election of Njeru Leo Wa Muthende as the validly elected Member of Parliament. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Richard Mwongo ruled that the petitioner, Newton Kariuki Ndwiga, failed to prove claims of violence, voter bribery, technological failures, and other electoral irregularities to the legal standard required in election disputes. The court found that although isolated incidents of malpractice and irregularities were established, there was insufficient evidence to show that they substantially affected the overall outcome of the by-election. Ndwiga…
A Makadara court Thursday allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain a murder suspect for 10 days pending investigations into the killing of gospel artist Rachael Wandeto who suffered severe burns after being doused with a flammable substance. Resident Magistrate James Juma Mayiah on Thursday allowed the DCI to continue holding Josiah Njeru Njiru at Kilimani Police Station pending completion of investigations into the death of 37-year-old Rachael Muthoni Wandeto. Njiru is being investigated for the offence of murder. He a taxi driver. According to police, the deceased was attacked on the night of May 15, after allegedly…
The High Court has declared that the prosecution of adolescents involved in consensual and non-exploitative sexual relationships violates the Constitution. In a judgment delivered virtually on Wednesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that sections of the Sexual Offences Act are unconstitutional when applied to consensual relationships between adolescents of close age proximity. The petition had been filed by three adolescents together with the youth rights organisation Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa (NAYA), who challenged what they described as the blanket criminalisation of adolescent sexuality under Kenya’s defilement laws. The court found that Sections 8, 9, 11 and 43(4)(f) of…
The Court of Appeal has declined to issue interim orders stopping the planned auction of Nairobi’s landmark 14 Riverside development, paving the way for the sale of the property later this month over a Sh10.7 billion dispute. In a ruling delivered on Monday, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Kimaru, Munyao and Okello rejected an application by Cape Holdings Limited seeking to temporarily halt the auction pending the determination of its appeal. The property, which includes the site of the 2019 DusitD2 terror attack, is scheduled to be auctioned on May 26, 2026. Cape Holdings had asked the appellate court to…
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has filed a petition challenging the recent increase in fuel prices, arguing that the move was unconstitutional, economically punitive, and implemented without adequate public participation. In the case filed before the High Court in Nyamira, the LSK sued seven state agencies and officials, among them the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Attorney General, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the National Standards Council, and three Cabinet Secretaries. The petition follows EPRA’s May 14, announcement raising the price of Super Petrol by Sh16.65 per litre and Diesel by Sh46.29 per litre for the pricing…
The High Court has reserved judgment in a petition filed by Katiba Institute challenging the withdrawal of security officers attached to High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi following his contempt ruling against former Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli. Justice Roselyne Aburili heard final submissions from all parties on Wednesday and directed that the matter be mentioned on June 23, for the fixing of a judgment date. The petition arises from events surrounding a habeas corpus case filed by the Law Society of Kenya concerning the alleged abduction of four Kenyans after the 2024 Finance Act protests. Judge Mugambi had summoned…
Two suspects accused of orchestrating a fake gold scheme that allegedly swindled foreign investors of more than Sh58 million will remain in custody until May 19, when the matter will be heard. Kache Mildred, also known as Sabreena Ayesha, and Ahmed Bashar Mohamed were arraigned before Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday over allegations of obtaining money by false pretences and conspiracy to defraud. During the proceedings, defence lawyers sought an adjournment, arguing that they had only recently been served with the miscellaneous application and needed more time to prepare a response. “We have had a look at the miscellaneous…
Two senior officials from the Kenya Railways Corporation have been found in contempt of court over the demolition of businesses on a disputed land despite orders stopping any interference with the proper. In the ruling, Justice Oscar Angote found Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip J. Mainga and Stanley Gitari guilty of disobeying court orders issued on March 11. “The essential elements necessary to establish contempt of court have therefore been proved,” the judge stated in the ruling. The case was filed by Superclean Shine Enterprises Limited and King Prime International Limited after structures linked to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi were…
A Nairobi businessman has moved to the Environment and Land Court seeking orders to stop the sale or transfer of a disputed property on Peponi Road, claiming he lost millions of shillings in a failed land transaction. Rajendra Ratilal Sanghani sued Thomas Kilonzo Mwanza and Dr. Karen Nkatha Rimita over the property known as Nairobi/Block 6/263/8. Court documents say that Sanghani entered into a sale agreement with the two on December 18, 2025, after the property had been advertised for public auction. Sanghani says he agreed to purchase the land for Sh70 million and paid a 10 percent deposit amounting…
The High Court was urged on Friday to declare sections of Kenya’s narcotics law unconstitutional for criminalising the private use, cultivation and possession of cannabis, with petitioners arguing that the provisions violate the rights to privacy and freedom of religion. Appearing before Justice Bahati Mwamuye at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division, lawyers Shadrack Wambui, Danstan Omari and Jeff Kangethe, representing Rastafari Society of Kenya (RSK), challenged sections 3, 5 and 6 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act. The petitioners told the court that the law imposes a blanket prohibition on cannabis use without distinguishing between public…
A Nairobi-based journalist and football player has moved to the High Court seeking Sh200 million in damages after being issued with expired drugs by Luton Hospital, an incident he claims left him with severe leg swelling and long-term mobility complications. In the petition filed before the Constitutional and Human Rights Division at Milimani, 37-year-old Dominic Osiemo Nyang’au said he was treated at the hospital on March 18, after experiencing persistent stomach pain and undergoing an endoscopy procedure. According to court documents, doctors prescribed him two medications LAEKIT and PROBIO but only PROBIO was available at the hospital pharmacy. He allegedly…
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is on the spot following claims by a Siaya woman that she turned HIV-negative after previously testing positive and undergoing treatment. In a demand letter dated May 6, the woman, through her lawyers Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta, Martina Swiga and Stanley Kinyanjui accuses KEMRI of issuing conclusions that contradict her medical history and has demanded a retraction of the institute’s findings contained in a letter dated April 20. The lawyers argued that the case raises complex questions regarding medical science, public health administration and legal accountability. The woman was first diagnosed with HIV in…
A Kibera Chief Magistrates Court allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain a woman for 10 days pending investigations into the death of a 79-year-old retired doctor. Beatrice Wangari will be held at Kilimani Police Station following a court ruling on Monday that partially allowed the DCI’s application for custodial detention. The DCI had sought 14 days, but the court reduced the period to 10 days. Wangari was arrested on May 1, after the death of Dr. Job Obwaka at her residence in the Milimani area of Kitengela. According to an affidavit filed by Sgt. Rhoda Nzioka of…