Court rejects bid to halt ex-servicemen proceedings against Karangi

By WILLIS OKETCH

The High Court in Mombasa has rejected a bid by Kenya Navy Commander at Mtongwe Base Lt Col Evans Oguga to stop court proceedings against Chief of Defence Julius Karangi.

Justice Edward Muriithi rejected the application by the base commander seeking to be heard yesterday, and instead directed the matter be brought before him on Monday. He rejected an application by Mwangi Njoroge from the Attorney General’s office, who wanted the matter heard yesterday.

But the judge said it was unfair for the AG to come to court and demand that they be heard without giving the other party an opportunity to go through the papers, which had been filed by Lt Oguga, seeking to have the proceedings stopped.

Justice Muriithi instead went ahead and heard the proceedings in which the 26 ex-servicemen want to be released following a court order issued last week. After hearing a report from the ex-servicemen’s lawyer Charles Mwalimu who was denied access to serve Karangi and Omamo at Ulinzi House, the judge gave fresh orders to have Karangi and Defence Cabinet Secretary Rachel Omamo served with the release orders.