Kenyans have reacted in shock and disbelief following news that a high court sitting in Embu had sentenced a 100 year old grandmother to three months in jail for contempt of court.
Margaret Ngima, was accused of failing to appear in court for a hearing meant to allocate a two-acre piece of land to a relative, Justa Wawira, who has been demanding a share of the family’s five-acre land at Nthambo in Embu County.
Lady Justice Florence Muchemi ordered Ngima to pay a fine of KShs 100,000 or spend three months in prison, unfortunately the old lady cannot afford the huge fine.
Her two sons Peter Njue, 72, and Angelo Gichovi, 52 were also found guilty of the same offense and were each sentenced to six months in jail without the option of a fine.
Her two sons Peter Njue, 72, and Angelo Gichovi, 52 were also found guilty of the same offense and were each sentenced to six months in jail without the option of a fine.
Angered by the news, Kenyans took to social media to fault the government forharshly punishing the poor and allowing the rich, but corrupt, to walk scot free.
“Surely! What kind of a judge is this? How dare you jail a woman of this advanced age? What message are you trying to send? Creating history. In any case it is possible that the land she is protecting is wholly hers and the person who made her land in jail tried to grab a portion of it; Kenyan style. To the law fraternity, why can any of you loud mouths volunteer to defend this blessed lady, pro bono? Or is this only reserved to high-end politicians and political parties?” said one social media user.
“Surely! What kind of a judge is this? How dare you jail a woman of this advanced age? What message are you trying to send? Creating history. In any case it is possible that the land she is protecting is wholly hers and the person who made her land in jail tried to grab a portion of it; Kenyan style. To the law fraternity, why can any of you loud mouths volunteer to defend this blessed lady, pro bono? Or is this only reserved to high-end politicians and political parties?” said one social media user.
“Only in Kenya. No wonder people get tired of such systems. The IG was given 60 days last week to arrest someone for contempt of court and am sure it will never happen. The poorer you are the more injustice you get. Does the granny even know what is contempt of court? Does she know how to read or depends on others to read forher. These are questions the judge should have asked themselves. CJ kazi kwako. No wonder we dont trust the judiciary hata mkisema judicial reforms ni bure.” said another.
“Amazing. When Pot-bellied corrupt MPigs and so-called cabinet secretaries and Senators disobey court orders, they are never fined, never arrested, never reprimanded and never anything. What’s been done to this elderly lady is can only be done by a mentally sick judge operating in a world more evil than hell where even the devil does not have the minimum credential required to proffer. the curse of the nation” another angry social media user revealed.
UPDATE:
The grandmother has finallybeen released after Embu Governor,Martin Nyaga Wambora volunteered to pay her Kshs 100,000 fine.
The grandmother has finallybeen released after Embu Governor,Martin Nyaga Wambora volunteered to pay her Kshs 100,000 fine.
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