Meru court summons Boinnet for failure to arrest PS Kibicho
A court in Meru has summoned Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet (right) for failing to arrest Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho (left), who is accused of contempt. Dr Kibicho is accused of ignoring a court injunction restraining him from harassing a brewer. FILE PHOTOS | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Kibicho is accused of ignoring a court injunction restraining him from harassing a brewer.
- Justice Francis Gikonyo also ruled that the warrant still stood.
- He said Dr Kibicho had shown utter disobedience of court orders.
- The warrant was first issued on April 29, and extended on May 3 after the PS failed to appear in court.
A court in Meru has summoned Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet for failing to arrest Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, who is accused of contempt.
The summons were issued after Dr Kibicho failed to turn up in court for the fourth time.
Mr Boinnet was ordered to appear in court and explain why he had failed to arrest and present the PS in court despite being served with a warrant of arrest orders.
Justice Francis Gikonyo also ruled that the warrant still stood.
He said Dr Kibicho had shown utter disobedience of court orders.
The court further directed that the summons to the IG be advertised in local dailies.
PRODUCE HIM IN COURT
“The Inspector-General of Police is ordered to come to court on July 14, to show cause why the PS cannot be arrested and produced in court,” Justice Gikonyo said.
On May 17, the court had extended the warrant after Dr Kibicho’s lawyer said her client was on official duty in Nairobi and would attend court when free from his tight schedule.
The warrant was first issued on April 29 but was extended on May 3 after the PS failed to appear in court.
Dr Kibicho was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to answer to the contempt-of-court charges against him.
DISOBEYED COURT ORDER
The PS is accused of disobeying a court order restraining him and other ministry staff from raiding a liquor manufacturing company located in Chuka/Igambang’ombe during the the crackdown on illegal alcohol.
On December 16, 2015, Hakim Commercial Agencies filed a lawsuit in a Chuka court seeking an order restraining the PS and his officers from harassing the firm.
The petitioner also asked the court to stop the PS from interfering with the company’s business of manufacturing alcoholic drinks.
On January 20 this year, Justice Alfred Mabea of the Chuka High Court issued a 60-day injunction. The PS was served with the orders. The court extended the orders for 45 more days on March 9, 2016.
However, on the same day that the court extended the order, Dr Kibicho is said to have led a team of administrators and police who confiscated alcoholic drinks from the company and arrested the proprietor, Albert Gitari, who was later booked at Embu Police Station.
