Author: NLM Correspondent

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has filed a notice of appeal against the High Court’s recent judgment to acquit former TV journalist Jacque Maribe in the murder case of Monica Kimani. Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions O.J Omondi, of the ODPP on Tuesday, February 13, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling delivered by High Court judge Grace Nzioka. The notice of appeal, filed with the Court of Appeal, explicitly challenges the component of the judgment that cleared Maribe of her involvement in the murder case. Justice Nzioka in her ruling delivered on Friday last week acknowledged…

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s has maintained that the Judiciary is frustrating impeding government-led reforms, proposed in the Tea Amendment Bill, 2023. Speaking from Kigumo, Murang’a County, on Saturday, February 10, Gachagua said there’s need for dynamic pricing mechanisms, and that farmers should be paid in dollars because Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) trades tea in US dollars. Responding to Gatanga MP Edward Muriu’s observations regarding dwindling farmer incomes despite the favorable dollar exchange rate, Gachagua said the strong dollar will boost farmers’ earnings. “I concur with Muriu that if the exchange rate for the dollar is high, the same should…

Secondary school principals are advocating for the transfer of the first batch of Grade Nine students to secondary schools amid cries over inadequate infrastructure in junior schools. This comes as the upcoming implementation of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is set to integrate Grade Nine classes with junior secondary (Grade Seven and Eight) levels, currently housed within primary schools. But it is the unpreparedness of primary schools proposed for hosting Grade Nine learners, deficiencies in teaching staff, classroom space, and laboratory facilities that is catching the attention of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha). The association’s national chairman, and chief principal…

Former Citizen TV journalist Jacque Maribe has been acquitted in the murder case of Monica Nyawira Kimani, while her former lover Joseph Irungu “Jowie” has been found guilty. The verdict was delivered by Justice Grace Nzioka on Friday, February 9, with the judge faulting the prosecution for preferring the wrong charge against Maribe. “It is my considered view that the charge brought against the second accused person (Jacque Maribe) was not the proper charge,” Justice Nzioka ruled. However, the verdict was different for Irungu, as Nzioka stated that the prosecution had proven its case against him beyond a reasonable doubt.…

The High Court has intervened, suspending the upcoming elections for lawyers’ representatives to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), originally scheduled for later this month. This decision follows a petition filed by city lawyer Ishmael Nyaribo, who accused the Law Society of Kenya elections board of discrimination. Nyaribo alleges that he was unfairly barred from contesting the February 29 elections. The competition for the LSK male representative to the JSC featured four candidates, including Nyaribo, the incumbent LSK president Eric Theuri, Omwanza Ombati, and Prof Michael Wabwile. Expressing his frustration, Nyaribo stated that despite meeting all the requirements to run for…

Police sources have disclosed a stunning revelation concerning murder suspect Kelvin Kang’ethe’s escape from Muthaiga Station. Kang’ethe, accused of killing Kenyan nurse Margaret Mbitu at a US-based airport last year, meticulously escaped police custody and disappeared in the busy streets of Nairobi. A man claiming to be Kang’ethe’s lawyer paid the suspect a visit on Wednesday afternoon, engaging in a brief session, according to a police report seen by Nairobi Law Monthly before his breakout. Under the guise of a routine attorney visit, the police granted the man’s request to see Kang’ethe. Following protocol, officers escorted the suspect from his…

President William Ruto has reiterated his commitment to the digitization of government services, particularly the payment of school fees through the e-citizen platform. Addressing concerns over resistance to the plan, on Wednesday, February 7, Ruto emphasized the importance of digital payments in eliminating extra levies imposed by some schools. Speaking during a meeting with the Kenyan diaspora in Tokyo, Japan, he backed digitization, citing its potential to curb abuse often associated with cash payments. He expressed determination to halt the operation of personal paybills collecting government funds, consolidating them into a single paybill number. Last week, the government mandated parents…

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and 16 others have been acquitted in a case involving the misappropriation of Sh357 million belonging to the Nairobi County government. Milimani Magistrate Eunice Nyutu ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the charges against the accused. “The evidence is inadequate to sustain the charges leveled against the accused persons,” Nyutu said. The court highlighted that the prosecution’s case was weakened by its failure to call all the witnesses initially indicated. All 17 accused individuals faced multiple charges related to corruption, money laundering, and acquisition of proceeds of crime. The court…

Panic has gripped Miradi village in Embakasi over fears of another gas leak, just three days after at least six people died and many others critically injured on Friday, February 2. This prompted the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and the police to come in on Monday, February 5 to urge residents near the area to leave their homes. Nairobi City County Chief Officer in charge of disaster management Bramwell Simiyu said that the evacuation was preemptive, adding that there is no cause for alarm as the area had been secured and a fire engine dispatched as a precautionary…

Former Mandera South Member of Parliament (MP), Adan Haji Ali Sheikh, is on the run after the Mombasa Anti-Corruption Court issued an arrest order against him. The court expected Haji to answer corruption charges related to a Sh51 million, allegedly misappropriated during his tenure as the County Executive Committee Member for Tourism in Kwale County between 2013 and 2017. Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) accuses him of orchestrating fraudulent dealings through his hotel, Lotfa Resort Diani Limited, involving his wife and son as directors. The charges include providing accommodation and conference services to the County Government at inflated costs without…