Social media users have reacted differently to a court order barring all state agencies from investigating or arresting cartel lawyer Professor Tom Ojienda.
High Court temporarily stopped his prosecution before a magistrate's court, until February. The orders were issued by High Court Judge, Chacha Mwita, after Ojienda, through his lawyers, filed a petition just hours before he took a plea to charges of corruption.
The high-flying lawyer has been under the radar of sleuths at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over money laundering of suspected proceeds of grand corruption.
Ojienda who is the Law Society of Kenya representative to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been for many years acting a defence attorney for besieged former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.
DCI were closely monitoring the actives of Ojienda and his posh Hurligham based practice, DCI detectives that Cyprian Nyakundi spoke to Via secure messaging confirmed.
For years now, Ojienda, who was previously rural practicing lawyer based in Eldoret before moving to Nairobi, has variously assisted Governor Kidero block a probe into various bank accounts held by Kidero and members of his family including a Standard Charted US dollar account, CBA Sterling Pound account and the Evans Kidero Foundation Family Bank account.
A few weeks ago Kidero was rearrested in ongoing investigations into alleged corruption after DCI and anti-corruption detectives camped at his upmarket Muthaiga home for hours before leaving with him in popular arrest.
Two years ago Ojienda was accused of tax evasion by the Kenya Revenue Authority. At that time KRA demanded a staggering Sh378 million, which included un-remitted employees’ income tax.
Ojienda was branded tax non-compliant and had his request for tax conformity certificate turned down.
Court records showed Ojienda evaded tax on his income as legal fees estimated at Sh1.1 billion received from Mumias Sugar Company and the Nairobi County Government, organisations that were both for years headed by Evans Kidero.
Here are some reactions from social media over the court order Tom Ojienda has orders barrying KRA , DCI , DPP, EACC and all government agencies from investigating him. Why is he scared @NelsonHavi ? https://t.co/1cb2gth6L9 — Rein (@Asamoh_) December 31, 2018 When I grow up I want to be Tom Ojienda. — Irregardless (@Kenyanimimi) January 1, 2019 The one thing the Ojienda/Judiciary fraud has done is incite me to the need for referendum to deal with a rogue judiciary. We must kill this judicial activism in the revised katiba else we shall be ripped off by this judiciary! We can’t have a bunch of unelected thugs screw us? — Mûmbi_wa_aGîkûyû (@kamaujst) January 1, 2019 Is it true that Ojienda was released on Sunday night without the court process? If yes, those who released him should be arrested. Lawyers are joking with other Kenyans. — Nicholas Opati (@NicholasOpati3) January 1, 2019 What is this that nobody should investigate, disturb, arrest or prosecute Tom ojienda? Do the courts fear ojienda to this levels. Who is this guy? Coz — Muriithi Muthee (@MuriithiMuthee1) January 1, 2019 To @ODPP_KE @DCI_Kenya We knew corruption fights back but the end is nigh. These suspects abusing judicial process should really get worried that one day the masses may opt to physically deal with them . It has happened in many other countries . You can fool some people ... — Mohammed Hersi (@mohammedhersi) January 1, 2019 The guilty are always afraid. I refrain from commenting any further; Inquistorial privilege bars me. Judges must now decide whether the people who pay them are less important than suspects of larceny. Well said & all the best Mr. Noordin Haji. Kenyans love you, #HappyNewYear2019 — Capt Collins Wanderi?? (@CaptWanderiCFE) December 31, 2018 This judge is the one wanted by the DEA for obstruction of justice with the drug barons akashas — Mwahu (@vinsvns) December 31, 2018 Your remedies as @ODPP_KE 1. Ask parliament to amend the law.
- Appeal the judgment.
- Accept and move on.
- Avoid frivolous prosecution. — Steel200 (@ataiRX) December 31, 2018