Police have been ordered to investigate the authenticity of a court order being used by 1,000 hawkers in Nairobi to block arrests by county officers.
Justice Isaac Lenaola has given the Divisional Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) at Central Police Station 42 days to establish the legality and validity of the orders allegedly issued by Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi, according to a report in the Nation.
“It is a very serious offence for hawkers to forge orders of this court to carry out their businesses,” Justice Lenaola said on Thursday. He allowed a plea by lawyer Titus Koceyo, for the police, to carry out in-depth investigation to establish how the hawkers managed to insert their names in several court orders they hold.
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The hawkers purport the orders were issued by Justice Ngugi in April 12 and 25 this year, yet majority of them did not file any case against the Nairobi City County. Mr Koceyo told the judge that only seven hawkers had filed a case against the Nairobi City County (NCC), seeking orders to be allowed to operate freely in respective prescribed areas in the city.
Mr Koceyo said the same order granted to Ephantus Muriu Ireri and six others was being used by other hawkers in other areas. Justice Lenaola stayed the hearing of an application seeking to commit to jail senior officers from the city’s Inspectorate Department, who were accused by the hawkers of confiscating their goods.
The officers cited in the contempt proceedings are William Kangongo, Stephen Waweru Njogu, Patrick Misigo, Charles Akoko, Jairus Basweti, Lochenia Ighot and Akass Aban.
The hawkers accuse the officers of violating the court order restraining the county officers from interfering with the hawkers’ operations.
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