Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi alias Sonko (left) and Siaya James Orengo. Sonko wants Orengo and four other CORD politicians jailed for allegedly disobeying court orders. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi alias Sonko wants senators James Orengo, Johnstone Muthama, Otieno Kajwang, Elizabeth Ongoro and politician Reuben Ndolo cited for contempt of court.

Mbuvi accuses the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) politicians of disobeying court orders issued on July 4 and 7 this year that required them to maintain peace and refrain from making inflammatory remarks during the Saba Saba rally.

The matter was certified as urgent by High Court Judge Justice Isaac Lenaola who directed that it be heard on Monday. In his suit, Sonko also wants  Orengo (Siaya), Muthama (Machakos), Kajwang (Homa Bay), Ongoro (Nominated) and Ndolo committed to prison for a period not exceeding six months for disobeying the said orders.

He noted that Justice Lenaola had directed CORD leaders to exercise their rights to assembly peacefully during the Saba Saba rally. The court, he said, required the politicians to assemble peacefully without being armed and without uttering inciting, inflammatory or defamatory remarks.

“They uttered defamatory statements during the public meeting held at Uhuru Park on July 7 in contravention of the court orders.

He attached transcripts of alleged defamatory statements made by each politician detailing what each said “to incite the crowd”.

“The politicians were aware of the said orders and intentionally and willingly disobeyed them knowing the consequences of disobedience and uttered...defamatory statements against the President and the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya in contempt,” he stated.

The court orders by Lenaola, he said, were advertised in the local media from July 5 to July 7.

He told the court that he has obtained clips and video recordings which he has transferred to DVD for the purpose of submitting in court.

The electronic media, he further said, captured and aired the said defamatory statements uttered by the politicians.

Court orders, he explained, are not made in vain and urged the High Court to enforce their compliance.

Lenaola on July 4 issued an order stating that, “the respondents aforesaid shall proceed as scheduled during which participants there shall be at liberty to exercise their constitutional right to assemble peacefully without being armed in any manner and without any incitement, inflammatory or defamatory rhetoric being uttered during such meeting.”

He further ordered that the meeting should not interrupt business activities of the day.