This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Nairobi County Speaker Might Face Contempt of Court Charges ¶
Published on December 21, 2019
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi is facing the possibility of being jailed for contempt of court after a Labour court dismissed her objection to a case filed against her.
The case, filed by Nairobi County Assembly Clerk Jacob Ngwele, seeks to have Elachi committed to jail for defying a court order lifting his suspension from duty.
Justice Onesmus Makau dismissed Elachi's preliminary objection, ruling that the case was properly filed and should proceed to full hearing.
Elachi's lawyer had argued that the application by Ngwele was defective and should be dismissed, citing that it was filed under the wrong rules and not personally served on Elachi as required by law.
However, the judge ruled that the contempt case was properly filed and should proceed to full hearing.
Elachi risks being jailed if she is found guilty of contempt of court.