Governor Nyong'o, sister fined Sh400,000 each for contempt

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o at a past function.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and his sister Nyogoy Nyong’o who were facing imprisonment for contempt have now been fined Sh400, 000 each by the Kisumu High Court.

The duo who failed to appear in court for the second time in a row will be jailed for one month should they fail to pay the fine within 30 days.  They will also be fined an additional Sh50, 000 fine each month if they fail to obey orders that were issued last year.

Thursday, lawyers representing the governor's nephews expressed their joy in the decision of the court and termed it as a step in the right direction in ensuring that court orders are obeyed.

This even as defense lawyers led by Rogers Mugumya sought for a fresh warrant of arrest against the duo arguing that they had continued to disobey court orders for eight months.

“We are happy with the sentence but we will bring them back with another contempt of court case should they fail to obey the sentence,” said Mugumya.

In a packed courtroom, Jefferson Museve who represented Nyongo and his sister however defended the absence of the duo before Justice Thrispisa Cherere arguing that they had lost their mother.

“Their mother passed on and we are seeking the court’s indulgence to give them time to mourn,” said Museve.

Last week, the court found them guilty of disobeying court orders directing them to share their father’s multi-million-shilling estate with their nephews.

The orders that were issued on October 11 last year revoked the administrative certificate that placed the duo as the sole administrators of the expansive estate.

The court had also directed them to present documents that show they have opened an account for their father's estate beginning July 9 2014.

Nyongo’s nephews, Geoffrey Omondi and Kenneth Odhiambo, had asked the court to have their families included in the list of beneficiaries.

On Thursday, however, Mugumya, a lawyer representing the nephews claimed that the duo did not have a valid reason to skip court even as he sent his condolences to the family for the loss of their mother.

He argued that the duo have failed to honor court orders for eight months since the orders were issued.

“Death is not an extraordinary circumstance and we pray for a warrant of arrest against the two,” said Mugumya.

The lawyer also claimed that as a public officer, Nyong’o could have led by example and obeyed orders of the courts.

In her ruling, however, Justice Cherere said that she gave the respondents enough time to attend court but they still failed to do so.

“I do not believe that they could have not spared time to attend court and I, therefore, will deliver the sentence. I therefore fine them Sh400, 000 each to be paid within 30 days,” said Cherere.