Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu defends self on case remarks

Kenya: Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has denied any wrong doing in a contempt case against her.

Ngilu said the remarks she made during a press conference on an ongoing land case were in public interest and have in no way compromised the case before the Environment and Lands Court (ELC).

In the petition filed before High Court judge Justice Mumbi Ngugi, the CS has been accused of contempt after she called for a press conference to discuss an ongoing land tussle between two companies.

In the press conference, the court documents indicate, Ngilu made remarks about a land tussle between an Asian family and a company over a multi-million plot in Parklands, Nairobi. The news conference was held on March 21 at her Ardhi House office where she was accompanied by the Asian family.

Ngilu defended herself saying the petitioner has no evidence on how she prevented due administration of justice. “If the applicant feels the Cabinet Secretary’s comments were defamatory, they have an appropriate remedy in the law,” she stated.

She maintained that she did not make adverse comments against the judge or the court and the applicant has not demonstrated her influence over the presiding judicial officers.