This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
On November 15, 2019, the Kenya Gazette published a notice revoking the appointment of city lawyer Philip Murgor as a public prosecutor.
The revocation was made by Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, who had appointed Murgor alongside former Mombasa Mayor Taib Ali Taib and lawyer James Kihara in a bid to strengthen the capacity at the office of DPP.
Murgor's position as a state prosecutor was the subject of discussion during the murder case involving his client Sarah Wambui, who was accused of murdering her Dutch husband Tob Cohen.
However, Murgor had resigned in March after he said the DPP had not assigned him any work for the two months he was appointed as special prosecutor.
“When a person resigns that’s the end of everything including the gazette notice. I will not read contents of the resignation out of respect for Noordin Haji,” Murgor told the court.
Despite his resignation, Murgor was allowed to represent Wairimu in the murder case, with Lady Justice Stella Mutuku ruling that he was no longer a prosecutor.
“No person should be forced to remain in office..his resignation was immediate after issuing the letter to the appointing authority. He is properly before this court and his representation does not have any conflict of interest,” she ruled in October.
