DAVID MBUVI KATHITU & 14 others v CITY COUNCIL OF NAIROBI & 3 others [2011] KEHC 2386 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NAIROBI

ELC NO. 155 OF 2009

DAVID MBUVI KATHITU...................................................................................................1ST PLAINTIFF

DAVI OLOO MIRUKA.......................................................................................................2ND PLAINTIFF

JOSEPH K. NZWILI.........................................................................................................3RD PLAINTIFF

ONESMUS MWENDWA WAMBUA................................................................................4TH PLAINTIFF

MARGARET GACHANJA..................................................................................................5TH PLAINTIFF

PAUL KATHYAKA.............................................................................................................6TH PLAINTIFF

MOSES MUTINDA............................................................................................................7TH PLAINTIFF

EZEKIEL MUNDIA NJENGA.............................................................................................8TH PLAINTIFF

TABITHA WAMBUI...........................................................................................................9TH PLAINTIFF

JANE MUTHONI..............................................................................................................10TH PLAINTIFF

JAPHETH NYAMONGO.................................................................................................11TH PLAINTIFF

MWAURA NGOMBE......................................................................................................12TH PLAINTIFF

SAMUEL KURIA MUIGAI................................................................................................13TH PLAINTIFF

JOHN MUTUNGA...........................................................................................................14TH PLAINTIFF

JULIANA MUTUKU........................................................................................................15TH PLAINTIFF

(suing on their own behalf and on behalf of other persons)

V E R S U S

CITY COUNCIL OF NAIROBI.......................................................................................1ST DEFENDANT

STEPHEN MAINGI MUREITHI......................................................................................2ND DEFENDANT

RIITHO MUREITHI........................................................................................................3RD DEFENDANT

NYAGATHUGU LIMITED.............................................................................................4TH DEFENDANT

R U L I N G

The 2nd Defendant was jailed for 21 days for contempt of court order. The term begun to run on 24th March 2011. When I asked Mr. Kiai how much time is left he indicated it was about 7 days. That was yesterday. The Defendant states that he is remorseful but that he did not deliberately disobey the court order in respect of which he was found to be in contempt. Further that he is hypertensive and diabetic and that further incerceration will compromise his health.

I do not want to say that if the health status of the Defendant is brought to the attention of prison authorities that can be dealt with, including access to specialized services.

In the face of a finding that the Defendant deliberately disobeyed the injunction order, and there being no appeal, it is contemptuous for him to be saying what he did not deliberately disobey. He cannot question the decision that was reached against him by the court and at the same time say he is remorseful. Any expression of remorse has to be unconditional and unequivocal.

There has been no demonstration that the Defendant has been sufficiently punished, and neither has he purged the contempt.

I refuse the application with costs.

DATED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBITHIS 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2011

A.O. MUCHELULE

J U D G E