Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja failed to appear in court on Thursday morning to heed to summons issued against him in the Green Park terminus impasse case.
The Governor later appeared at noon virtually.
Earlier, through his lawyer Duncan Okatch, Sakaja said he was in a presidential function and asked the court for more time to allow him to log into the virtual court.
Okatch said Sakaja was very willing to attend court and was asking for more time.
Sakaja kept the court waiting for over 40 minutes with his lawyers telling court he was joining. Lawyer Adrian Kamotho kept asking for 5 minutes but he didn’t log in.
Only for Okatch to come later and tell court that the governor was engaged but the person in charge of the project was in court and he could answer any questions from court.
Justice Hedwig Ong’udi said she had specifically asked for the governor and not any other person.
“Do you know why I asked for the first respondent to be present in court today? Who told you I wanted to ask him questions,” the judge asked
The judge said she wanted Sakaja to appear so that Sakaja and the petitioners could reach an understanding.
Petitioners lawyer Wycliffe Omayio told the court that what happened in court on Thursday showed that the county head was not taking this matter seriously by taking the court in circles and then later saying he was at a presidential function.
He, however, said he was not opposed to the Governor being given more time for the last time.
The matter has been adjourned to 12.30 to give the Governor time to appear virtually, which he complied.
In the case, several long-distance matatu Saccos have challenged the county's decision to move them from the CBD to the green park terminus at Uhuru park.
Judge Ong’udi issued interim orders suspending the move saying the status quo should remain but the county went ahead to implement the move.
