Review: DJ Joe detained as court issues arrest warrant against oil tycoon

Despite it being a four-day working week, the courts have been busy carrying out their mandates.

Here are some of the cases that were dealt with this week:

DJ Joe, others detained

A Kibera Court on Monday allowed an application by the police to detain DJ Joe Mfalme and six others pending investigations into the alleged fatal assault on Kabete cop Felix Kelian.

Magistrate Margret Murage allowed their detention for 14 days.

The DCI had requested 21 days but the court said 14 days would be sufficient.

DJ Joe was detained at Muthangari police station together with Eric Gathua and Simon Wanjiru.

Allan Ochieng were detained at Kabete police station while the three officers Khadija Abdi Wako, Sammy Rotich and Agnes Mogoi at Riruta station.

Petitioners seek to stop the construction of Mau Mau road

Four petitioners moved to court seeking to stop the construction of the 52km tarmac road through the Aberdare National Park and Forest.

The four urged the court to give orders preserving the Aberdare National Park pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

In the documents filed at the Nairobi Environment and Land Court, they also sought orders stopping the continuation of the planned construction or any other activity concerning the Mau-Mau LOT 4: Ihithe-Ndunyu Njeru road.

They argued if the road is built as planned, it will have irreversible environmental, economic, and cultural impacts on the Aberdare.

They also submitted that the construction would put at risk rare, endemic and critically endangered animals and plants found in the area including the Mountain Bongo.

Court issues arrest warrant against oil tycoon in Sh1.5bn fraud case

The Court on Tuesday issued a warrant of arrest against Oil tycoon Yagnesh Devani after he failed to show up in a Sh1.5 billion fraud case.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki issued the warrant following an application by the prosecution who said it was the second time he failed to attend court.

Devani was early this year charged with stealing 318,665 tonnes of jet fuel valued at Sh1.5bn, property of Kenya Commercial Bank.

He had been on the run since 2008 before he was arraigned in court in January 2024, and released on Sh1 million cash bail.

Accused persons in land row want court to visit site

The People accused of maliciously damaging a fence valued at Sh2.5 million in a Naivasha want the court to visit the scene before the case proceeds.

Through their lawyer, they also to know the identity of the complainant.

Appearing before Milimani Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe the lawyer argued that the person who is said to have been aggrieved by the alleged offence is unknown.

He said the person listed in the charge sheet should be ordered to present the land's title deed.

"We are seeking that the title deed and the survey report be issued to the accused persons because it is critical," he said.

They also wondered why the case is out of its geographical jurisdiction in Nairobi instead of Naivasha.

Couple in trafficking case ordered to forfeit vehicles

The High Court has ordered a couple facing charges of human trafficking to surrender two of their vehicles after they were found to be proceeds of crime.

Justice Esther Maina said public interest dictates that a person ought not to be allowed to continue enjoying illicit wealth.

“Such wealth must be forfeited to act as a deterrent. Learners must take cognisance of this and take precautions to cushion themselves from customers such as the respondents who use their facilities to launder their ill-gotten property,” she said.

In the case, the Assets Recovery Agency sued Kendi and Muthamia and listed the two financial institutions that awarded them loans as interested parties.

The agency said the interested parties are both financiers in respect to the purchase of the vehicles and are co-registered owners, having extended loans to Kendi for the purchase of the vehicles.