High Court bars DPP from charging businessman Jimi Wanjigi

The High Court in Nairobi has issued temporary orders barring the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from charging businessman Jimi Wanjigi pending hearing and determination of a case filed.

“Pending the full inter partes hearing and determination of the interlocutory applications pending in this file, a conservatory order in the nature of an order of prohibition be and is hereby issued against the 2nd Respondent barring the 2nd Respondent from proffering or instituting any criminal charges or continuing any criminal prosecution against the Petitioner relating to the subject matter of the Petition herein,” ruled Justice Bahati Mwamuye.

“…and for added clarity the Petitioner shall not take plea before the subordinate court during his appearance of 26/09/2024, but the 2nd Respondent shall be at liberty to apply to this Court.”

The court also last month granted Wanjigi relief after issuing orders barring his prosecution over allegations of illegal firearm possession.

 Justice Mwamuye on August 20, 2024 ruled in favour of the former presidential candidate, stopping the ODPP from confiscating, retaining, or interfering with any firearms registered to him.

The court at the same time directed the prosecution to stay any criminal charges levelled against Wanjigi in respect to the firearm certificate pending the hearing and determination of the case.

This came after Wanjigi had only the previous day been arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after presenting himself for grilling over his alleged funding of the anti-government protests.

He was however released on a personal bond of Ksh.10 million after appearing in court, where he was ordered to surrender his passport pending a ruling scheduled for September 12 on whether he would enter a plea.