Court issues warrant of arrest against Interior PS for contempt

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

Nairobi,Kenya: A Nairobi court has issued a warrant of arrest against Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho for defying its orders.

High Court judge George Odunga yesterday ordered Central Police station OCPD to arrest the PS for failing to pay a man who had sued the State for false imprisonment.

The application to have Kibicho put in civil jail for six months was filed by Joshua Mutua after the ministry failed pay him Sh338,022.30 awarded by the court.

Mutua has spent the last seven years demanding for his dues in vain.

"A warrant of arrest is hereby issued against the said PS. Central Police Station to forthwith arrest the said PS and bring him to court for committal of the appropriate orders," judge Odunga ruled yesterday.

Mr Mutua's case started in 2003 and he was awarded the amount six years later on July 2, 2009.

The ministry only paid half the amount and informed him that the money owed would be shared between the ministry and the others who had been mentioned as respondents in the case.

Judge Odunga had issued an order against Kibicho predecessor Monicah Juma two months ago indicating that she should show up yesterday in person to explain why she should not be punished for contempt of court, but the burden shifted to the current office holder after he failed to appear in court.

In defense, the ministry had told the court that the award had not been paid due to reshuffles.

"In my view, it does not augur very well for the respondents to say that due to bureaucracy, they have not been able to fully settle a judgement decreed by this court since 2009," the judge said.

Justice Odunga noted that failure to pay the money on time attracted interest.