Githu: Ignore court orders at your own peril

• Prof Muigai echoed the sentiments of the Chief Justice who noted that a special judicial police unit would be introduced to deal with contemptuous persons.
• CJ Willy Mutunga had said there was need to ensure that the authority of the courts was obeyed
• The AG said he would ensure that the Contempt of Court Act was enforced, and warned that the law would take its course on those disobeying.

The days of ignoring court orders are numbered, the Attorney General has warned top government officials, politicians and corrupt traders.

Prof Githu Muigai on Sunday said he would ensure that the Contempt of Court Act is enforced to tame persons who are fond of disrespecting court authority.

Speaking at the Leisure Lodge Beach Resort in Diani, Mombasa, while closing the annual Law Society of Kenya conference, Prof Muigai echoed the sentiments of the Chief Justice who noted that a special judicial police unit would be introduced to deal with contemptuous persons.

CJ Willy Mutunga had said there was need to ensure that the authority of the courts was obeyed, and this could only happen if the stakeholders worked in cooperation to ensure compliance.

He lamented that certain government officials were fond of ignoring the orders, saying that they were ‘useless’, hence going against the Constitution.

“I know you all heard when Mr Anthony Kibuchi (Nairobi PPO) equated court orders to tissue paper. Surely, when one makes a comment like this and yet he is expected to ensure that they are obeyed, is he not overthrowing the Constitution?” he asked.

In response, the AG said he would ensure that the Act was enforced, and warned that the law would take its course on those disobeying.

Chief registrar of the judiciary Gladys Shollei said the institution had installed an online system capable of processing about 6,000 practising certificates for lawyers.