Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is facing the prospect of a civil jail term after being accused of facilitating the departure of Nairobi Finance County Executive Committee (CEC) member Charles Kerich to Dubai in an alleged attempt to evade a court-ordered prison sentence.
The accusations emerged in proceedings before the Milimani High Court, where lawyers claim the governor abused his office to shield a convicted contemnor from the law.
Court Sentence and Debt Dispute
The controversy stems from a ruling in which the Milimani High Court sentenced Kerich to three months in prison for contempt of court. The conviction arose from his failure to comply with court orders relating to the payment of more than Sh106.7 million owed to a city law firm.
Rather than surrendering to authorities as directed by the court, Kerich is reported to have left the country for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, purportedly as part of an official county government trip.
Sakaja Named in Alleged Conspiracy
In an application filed by Kwengu & Company Advocates, Governor Sakaja has been named as the principal facilitator of what lawyers describe as a calculated scheme to frustrate the administration of justice.
Through a supporting affidavit, advocate Appel Kwengu alleges that Sakaja personally authorized and facilitated Kerich's travel arrangements, including the processing of documents and logistical support that enabled the county official to leave Kenya despite the court order.
Source attributed: The Standard