Court orders Kethi's arrest for 'contempt'

A Nairobi court has ordered the arrest of lawyer Kethi Kilonzo.

Chief Magistrate Hannah Ndung'u issued the warrant of arrest after Kethi failed to turn up for the hearing of her case.
The lawyer had obtained a stay order that temporarily stopped her prosecution over allegations of stealing a voter registration slip.

High Court Judge Justice Msagha Mbogholi had suspended the trial that was to commence yesterday morning before Ms Ndung'u following Kethi's successful application.

Justice Mbogholi put off the trial pending determination of an application Kethi filed on Tuesday last week opposing the conduct of the proceedings, arguing they were oppressive.

He further ordered the chief magistrate to present the file before the High Court to enable it to determine the matter. The matter will be mentioned before the High Court on July 10.

However, when Kethi failed to show up yesterday, Ndung'u noted that her court was yet to be issued with the stay order and consequently issued the arrest warrant.
She set a mention for July 8.