Sakaja Faces Jail Threat as Finance CEC Kerich Allegedly Flees to Dubai
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is facing a major legal and political storm after being accused in court of helping his Finance CEC, Charles Kerich, flee the country following a court order sentencing the county official to three months in prison for contempt of court. The allegations have intensified an already explosive dispute involving Nairobi County, the courts, and law enforcement agencies.
The claims emerged in a case filed before the Milimani High Court by Kwengu & Company Advocates, which accuses Sakaja of playing a central role in what the law firm describes as a deliberate scheme to undermine the authority of the court. According to court documents, the Governor allegedly facilitated Kerich’s departure to Dubai shortly after the Finance CEC was sentenced, effectively helping him evade arrest and imprisonment.
The fresh lawsuit seeks to have Sakaja cited for contempt of court and committed to civil jail. The law firm argues that the Governor’s alleged actions directly interfered with the execution of a lawful court order arising from Nairobi County’s failure to settle a Sh106.7 million debt owed to the advocates. The case has now drawn in not only Sakaja and Kerich but also the Inspector General of Police, creating what lawyers describe as a growing constitutional and governance crisis.
The controversy stems from a ruling delivered by Justice Francis Gikonyo on May 19, in which Kerich was sentenced to three months in prison for contempt of court. The sentence followed repeated failures by Nairobi County to comply with a court order requiring payment of Sh106,736,841.83 linked to an earlier decree involving Foton East Africa Limited. The court found that county officials had persistently ignored lawful directives despite multiple opportunities to settle the matter.
The latest allegations have raised serious questions about accountability within Nairobi County and whether public officials can be held personally responsible for defying court orders. Legal analysts note that if the court finds sufficient evidence supporting the claims against Sakaja, the case could become one of the most significant contempt proceedings involving a sitting governor in recent years.
Meanwhile, questions continue to surround Kerich’s whereabouts. Reports indicate that the Finance CEC is believed to be in Dubai, although neither he nor the county government has publicly addressed the allegations in detail. The uncertainty has fueled speculation and intensified public interest in a case that is rapidly evolving beyond a debt dispute into a major test of respect for the rule of law.
As the matter proceeds through the courts, attention will now shift to whether the allegations against Sakaja can be substantiated and what consequences may follow if the court determines that there was an attempt to frustrate the enforcement of its orders. The outcome could have significant political, legal, and administrative implications for Nairobi County and its leadership.
For now, the case has placed Governor Sakaja under intense scrutiny, with the possibility of contempt proceedings and a civil jail term adding a new layer of pressure to an administration already facing mounting legal challenges.
