Governor Nyong'o, sister committed to month in civil jail

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’. Inset: His sister Nyagoy Nyong’o. The two have been sentenced to jail for contempt of court. [File, Standard]

A judge has ordered Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s arrested and jailed for one month.

Prof Nyong’o and his sister Nyagoy Nyong’o were sentenced to one month in civil jail for disobeying court orders over a protracted family property dispute.

The two failed to pay the Sh400,000 fine the court slapped on each for contempt on May 23, this year.

Justice Thrispisa Cherere ordered Kisumu County Commander to execute the arrest.

In the suit, Nyong’o’s nephews: Geoffrey Omondi and Kenneth Odhiambo sued the two for failing to include their families in the list of beneficiaries in their late father’s multi-million estates.

The estate estimated to be valued at Sh200 million includes 100 acres piece of land in Miwani under a 99-year lease, parcels of land in Manyatta, Tamu, Milimani estates, and East Rata in Seme sub-county in Kisumu.

It also includes another parcel of land along Jogoo Road in Nairobi which currently has flats built on it.

In today’s proceedings, Rodgers Mugumya, an advocate representing the nephews told the court that the duo had now committed double contempt of court.

He claimed that they were disgruntled by the conduct of the Governor and his sister after they failed to comply with the terms of their sentences that were delivered in May.

“We pray that they be committed to civil jail. We are also asking the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the two,” said Mugumya.

According to the advocate, other orders that had also been issued earlier on by the court directing them to file the books of accounts were also yet to be complied with.

The orders that were issued in 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 opened an account for their father's estate beginning July 9 2014.

On May 23, however, the court convicted them for disobeying those orders and sentenced them on May 30 with the judge ordering them to either pay Sh400,000 each or face one month in prison.

Come today, the court heard that the duo was yet to comply with the orders .

In their defense, however, Chacha Odera who represented the Governor and his sister sought for more time to allow them complete an appeal that has been filed at the appellate court challenging the orders that revoked the administrative certificate.

Odera denied that they had wilfully disobeyed court orders adding that the Governor was a law abiding citizen.

“We will be in court next week. Allow us to come on July 31 after the matter at the court of appeal,” said Odera.