Court halts abuse of office case against Kosgey

By Evelyn Kwamboka

The High Court has temporarily stopped an abuse of office case at a magistrate’s court against suspended Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey.

Justice Nicholas Ombijah issued the interim order to pave the way for the judicial review application seeking to quash charges against Kosgey on grounds that Special Prosecutor Patrick Kiage has no legal authority to prosecute him.

The judge also ordered Kosgey to within seven days deposit Sh1 million as security for the suit.

The Tinderet MP was charged at the magistrate’s court with 12 counts of abuse of office.

He is alleged to have allowed three companies and three individuals to import 123 vehicles aged over eight years. Trial magistrate Elijah Obagah ordered in July that Kosgey has a case to answer.

In his ruling Thursday, Justice Ombijah allowed the MP to file a judicial review application to challenge Kiage’s status on whether he is a public prosecutor, legal practitioner, or law lecturer.