Court issues warrant of arrest against PS Kibicho

Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho faces arrest.

A Meru court issued a warrant of arrest against the PS for repeatedly disobeying court orders.

Justice Francis Gikonyo, while issuing the warrant of arrest against the PS, noted that the state officer has a tendency of disobeying court orders and summons requesting him to appear to answer to the alleged contempt of court charges against him.

Mr Kibicho is accused of disobeying a court order restraining him and his staff from the ministry from raiding a liquor manufacturing company during the crackdown to end illegal brews.

On December 16, 2015 Hakim Commercial Agencies filed a suit in a Chuka court, seeking to make the court issue an injunction order restraining the PS and his officers from harassing the petitioner.

The petitioner also asked the court to stop the PS from interfering with the company’s business of manufacturing the alcoholic drinks.

The company which is located along Ikuu-Kabati Road in Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe Sub County, manufactures Opaque Beer.

The court allowed the application filed by the brewer's lawyer Ashford Riungu.

On January 20, 2016 Justice Alfred Mabea of Chuka High Court issued an order lasting for a period of 60 days. The PS was served with the orders. The court extended the orders for 45 more days on March 9.

However on the same day that the court extended the order, Mr Kibicho is said to have led a team of administrators and police who confiscated alcoholic drinks from the company and arrested the proprietor Mr Albert Gitari who was later booked at Embu Police Station.

"The PS told the chiefs and the police never to respect the court order because the judiciary has refused to assist the ministry in eradicating the illicit brew," said Mr Riungu.

BEAT COMPANY EMPLOYEES

“He led police at my client's premises, broke the gate, beat the company employees and arrested my client together with his children,” added Mr Riungu.

Following the breach of the court order, the company filed an application for contempt, asking the court to commit the PS to a jail term for a period to be determined by the court.

However, Justice Mabea disqualified himself from hearing the petition and referred the file to Meru high court for hearing and disposal by the court.

Mr Kibicho was summoned to appear at Meru high court on March 31 for the hearing of the petition but he did not turn up.

He also disobeyed a second summon issued for him to appear in court on April 21.

Justice Gikonyo on Friday rejected an application filed by Mr Kibicho’s lawyer pleading with the court to grant his client two more weeks.

“The PS is engaged in some official duties as he had accompanied the president to Nyanza. Therefore he could not be able to attend the court today (Friday). We pray for two weeks for the PS to appear before the court,” Lawyer Janet Kungu said.

Justice Gikonyo issued the warrant of arrest and ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest the PS for him to appear in court on May 3.

“It is evident that the PS has perfected the art of disobeying court orders. This is because of his repeated disobedience to the court. A state officer must uphold the law and respect the constitution he has sworn to protect," he said.

"I am not convinced that he failed to appear in court due to an official duty and it is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of police arrest and present the PS In court” ruled Justice Gikonyo.