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A Nairobi court is set to determine whether a senior imam accused of obtaining Sh774,000 from a complainant on the promise of facilitating Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia will be released on bail.  The accused, Omar Athman Omar, 49, is alleged to have misled Mohamed Salim Bahlewa, a Nairobi resident, between December 18 and 19, 2025, claiming he could facilitate his Umrah pilgrimage. Omar Athman Omar accused in the Umrah travel scandal/Photo/Reporter  Omar, who is Swahili and resides in Malindi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code. Counsel for the accused applied for bail, arguing there are no compelling reasons to deny him his constitutional right. The defence highlighted Omar’s strong family and social ties. “The accused is a senior imam, a family man with a fixed abode in Malindi where he lives with his family,” counsel told the court. The defence further stated that Omar is not a flight risk despite occ...

A Nairobi man, Joseph Kimani Kamau, has been convicted on two counts of impersonation and fraudulent withdrawal of funds. Kamau, a Kenyan adult presented himself at KCB Bank, Imara Daima branch, on February 4, pretending to be Wesley Kiplagat Kirui. He successfully withdrew Sh450,000, using a withdrawal form and an original ID in Kirui’s name. Joseph Kimani Kamau before Milimani law courts/photo/Reporter Bank officials noticed discrepancies in the signatures and facial image on the ID compared to the bank’s records.  Kamau also gave inconsistent information when questioned and claimed he could not use mobile banking because he had misplaced his SIM card. Further checks revealed additional inconsistencies, prompting the bank manager to alert police, leading to his arrest. Investigators also recovered another ID in Kamau’s real name. During mitigation, Kamau told the court he acted under financial pressure as a family breadwinner: "I was given the ID and all the documents by a frien...

The Court of Appeal has reinstated the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) Act, 2015, overturning a High Court decision that had declared the entire law unconstitutional. In a landmark judgment delivered on Thursday, February 6, 2026, the appellate court set aside the High Court ruling issued on September 20, 2024, finding that the decision to nullify the entire Act was legally unsustainable. In Courts. The judges faulted the High Court for adopting an extreme remedy. “The remedy of striking down the entire NGCDF Act, 2015 was disproportionate and inconsistent with the principle of severability,"documents read. The Court of Appeal ruled that the fund does not undermine the constitutional architecture of devolution, finding that NGCDF remains a lawful instrument through which the national government implements national functions at the constituency level. On the doctrine of separation of powers, the court rejected the High Court’s findings, ruling that Members...

 The High Court on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, extended interim orders freezing five bank accounts linked to Kiambu Governor Paul Kimani Wamatangi in a case filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The matter came up before Justice Okong’o in the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division for directions on an application by the commission seeking the extension of interim injunctive orders. The court ordered that the preservation orders remain in force until March 17, 2026, and directed parties to exchange written submissions within 14 days. Kiambu Governor Paul Wamatangi/File The EACC alleges that the funds, amounting to shs. 813 million, are proceeds of corruption and economic crime and were unlawfully acquired between 2017 and 2022 while Wamatangi served as a Senator. The anti-graft body further claims that the Governor used his position to influence the award of road construction tenders to companies linked to him, an allegation he has denied. The frozen acc...

The High Court has set strict timelines in a petition seeking the legalisation of cannabis sativa (bhang), warning parties that no cannabis seeds should be allowed in court premises and may only be presented as photographic exhibits in their supporting evidence. While issuing its directions, the court emphasized the need to bring the case to a conclusion, noting that it affects a large number of people and has been before the court for several years. Rastafarians society following a proceedings at the Milimani law courts on February 4,2026 Justice Bahati Mwamuye observed that the matter had been in court for a long time and noted that there would be no further adjournments. “This is a 2021 matter affecting a large number of persons and ought to be concluded expeditiously. The timelines issued are final, and no further adjournments shall be entertained,” he ruled. The court directed that the hearing will proceed on March 13 and March 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The petitioners are expected t...

The High Court has temporarily declined an application seeking a review of bail terms for Erick Mutinda, the accused in the murder of Multimedia University student Sylvia Kemunto, citing concerns that he may flee the country. In a ruling delivered before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Kibera law courts, the court said the fears were anchored on earlier prosecution testimony indicating that the accused had expressed intentions to escape to Tanzania after the alleged crime. “In the circumstances, the application for review of bail terms is temporarily declined and may be renewed on March 16, 2026,” the court ruled. Erick Mutinda on January 26,2026/Sarah Awinja  The decision followed testimony by a 19-year-old Multimedia University student, who told the court that on the night of April 3, 2025, Mutinda called him and confessed to killing his girlfriend. The witness testified that the accused narrated how he allegedly strangled Sylvia Kemunto by holding her neck, packed her body into a s...

Emotional moments were witnessed in a Nairobi court as the mother of Sylvia Kemunto, a first-year student at Multimedia University who was allegedly strangled, broke down in tears while recounting the events that led to her daughter’s death. Triza Kwamboka, while explaining before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Kibera Law Courts, narrated how her daughter disappeared and was later found dead under shocking circumstances. She told the court that on March 30, 2025, Sylvia called her and said she was well, even sending her some money for food. Later that day, her calls went unanswered, prompting her to travel to the university on Sunday to look for her daughter. At the school, Triza said she was first referred to Sylvia’s roommate, who told her thatupon arriving from church,she found the room disorganised. “Roommate wake aliniambia kuwa chumba kilikuwa kimevurugwa na Sylvia hakuwepo,”she said. She was later given the phone number of Erick Mutinda, the accused, who claimed Sylvia had left ea...

A Multimedia University student has told a Nairobi court about the unusual behavior of his roommate, the accused Erick Mutinda, in the days leading up to the disappearance of his girlfriend, Sylvia Kemunto. The witness, a second-year student, said he noticed actions that raised alarm and decided to recount them before the court. He told the court that on Friday, March 28, 2025, Mutinda left their room, claiming he was visiting his sister. He returned hurriedly on Sunday, dropped his luggage on the bed, and left again shortly afterward. “At around 4:20 pm, I came back to the room and saw Erick laying beside a person and trying to hide the feet of the person which had some Quitex,” the witness testified. Later, while charging his phone at Mutinda’s bedside, he felt someone under a duvet cover but left at about 4:30 pm to attend a fellowship. “I tried sitting on the edge of Erick’s bed since I was charging my phone there, and when I placed a hand on the bed, I felt someone, though the per...

A Multimedia University (MMU) student has told a Nairobi court that Erick mutinda a student accused of murdering his girlfriend Sylvia Kemunto, confessed to strangling her, packing her body in a suitcase, and disposing of it. Testifying before Justice Diana Kavedza of Kibera law courts, 19-year-old Philip said Erick called him on the night of April 3, 2025, and narrated how he allegedly killed the deceased Sylvia Kemunto. "On the April 3,2025 Erick called me and told me that he had strangled her girlfriend by holding her neck, packed the body in a suitcase, and took it from his room using the back door of Block E, which has CCTV cameras," witness told the court. Erick Mutinda accused in the murder of multimedia University student Sylvia Kemunto /Photo/Sarah Awinja  The witness added that Erick asked him to keep the confession secret and mentioned he could flee to Tanzania using his father’s car.  The witness who says he has known the accused since their days at Matiliku High...

Former Nairobi Governor Ferdinand Ndungu Waititu Babayao has asked the High Court to lower his bail, claiming the Sh53.5 million bank guarantee set in July 2025 is impossible to secure. Through his lawyer, Chris N. Mutuku, Waititu is requesting that the amount be replaced with a cash deposit of Sh20 million or another sum the court finds appropriate The application cites the “Doctrine of Impossibility,” arguing that forcing him to meet the original conditions effectively denies him the right to bail. Ferdinand waititu/photo/files The former governor also highlights his advanced age and ill-health, warning that remaining in custody while his appeal is pending could cause irreparable harm.  Waititu also adds that he has faithfully followed court orders for over five years and poses no flight risk. Filed under Section 357(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the motion asks the court to treat the matter as urgent and hear it ex-parte, allowing for immediate review before the Prosecution...

A Nairobi court has acquitted Abdi Ibrahim, popularly known as DJ Brown Skin, who had been charged with aiding the suicide of his wife, after finding that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. In its ruling, the court emphasized that “the right to life is the most fundamental of all rights,” while describing death by one’s own hand as “a profound tragedy that requires sobriety, compassion and careful legal reflection rather than moral judgment.” DJ Brown Skin faced three counts in relation to the death of his wife, Sharon Jereimi Wangi, who died on July 29, 2022, after ingesting insecticide.  Dj Brown Skin in Milimani law courts on January 22,2026/Screengrab The charges included aiding suicide, failing to prevent a felony on grounds that he allegedly knew of her intention to take her life and failed to intervene, and destroying evidence by allegedly removing a mobile phone SIM card to obstruct its use in judicial proceedings. At the close of the prosecution’s case...

 A Nairobi court on Wednesday released Titus Ntheuwa Ngathe, a tractor driver accused of damaging a 200KVA transformer sub-station owned by Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) in Westlands, after granting him bail. The hearing was held at Milimani Law Courts before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, who set the bond at Sh 100,000 with one contact person, or an alternative of similar amount with a surety.  Ngathe, a Kenyan adult male, pleaded not guilty on the alleged damage, valued at Sh 1.87 million which occurred on January 11, 2026, at 2nd Parklands Avenue, Westlands Sub-County.  Titus Ntheuwa Ngathe before Milimani magistrate court on January 21,2026. During the hearing, Ngathe’s lawyer made two applications which was for reasonable bail, noting that Ngathe is a tractor driver employed on Kenya Rural Roads Authority road works, and the tractor allegedly involved in the incident was part of official work. The counsel added, "The accused is fully employed, has a fixed h...

A Nairobi court has sentenced a Congolese national to two months’ imprisonment, or alternatively fined him Sh40,000, after he pleaded guilty to unlawfully staying in Kenya without valid immigration documentation. The accused, Joli Liuson Vhemba, admitted the charge and confirmed that the facts presented by the prosecution were correct. The prosecution told the Milimani magistrate court that on January 16, 2026, immigration officers stopped Vhemba and asked him to produce his passport. Vhemba failed to do so, raising suspicion that he was in the country unlawfully. He was subsequently escorted to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices for further questioning. Investigations at the DCI established, through immigration system records, that Vhemba entered Kenya on February 10, 2025.  The prosecution said he had failed to update his immigration status since then, rendering his continued stay in the country unlawful. His passport was later recovered on January 17, 2026,...

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured interim court orders to freeze five bank accounts linked to Kiambu Governor Paul Kimani Wamatangi. In Courts The move comes amid a civil suit alleging corruption and economic crimes. The suit, filed against Wamatangi and 13 other respondents, claims that between 2017 and 2022, while serving in the Senate, he unlawfully acquired over Sh. 700 million. He is also accused of using his position as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Roads to influence tenders awarded by KeNHA, KURA, and KeRRA to companies linked to him. Investigations indicate that although Wamatangi formally transferred directorships to family members, including his wife and siblings, he allegedly remained a signatory and beneficial owner of the accounts. The EACC is seeking the recovery or forfeiture of Sh. 813,145,532.40, categorised as proceeds of corruption. The court targeted accounts at Family Bank held by companies associated with the Governor. These in...

Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Daraja Nabwera has moved to the High Court seeking Sh100 million in damages over alleged defamatory remarks attributed to Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Angatia Savula. In an application filed at the Milimani Law Courts, the MP claims Savula made false, malicious and derogatory statements during a burial ceremony held on November 25, 2025, in Kakamega County. According to court documents, Nabwera alleges the remarks insinuated his HIV status, claims he says are untrue and calculated to injure his reputation and political standing. “The statements made by the respondent were false, malicious and defamatory, and were calculated to lower my reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society,” Nabwera says in his affidavit. Through his lawyers, Danstan Omari & Associates Advocates, Nabwera wants the court to certify the matter as urgent and hear it ex parte in the first instance. Member of Parliament Nabii Daraja Nabwera addressing the media ou...