Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has finally broken his silence on the whereabouts of Finance Executive Charles Kerich, even as the courts declined to suspend his three-month civil jail sentence.
Kerich was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to three months in prison for failing to settle Sh106.7 million in legal fees to Kwengu and Company Advocates for services rendered on behalf of Foton East Africa Ltd.
The ruling was issued on May 19, 2026, by Justice Francis Gikonyo, who sentenced Kerichto to jail for contempt of court.
In a letter to the Nairobi County Assembly's Committee on Implementation, Governor Sakaja, through Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, stated that Mr Kerich was in the United States on an official assignment, setting out the county's position on his absence.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja (Left) and County Chief Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning Charles Kerich at a past event.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
Mr Akumali explained that the finance executive would not appear before the committee as requested in its invitation letter and asked the committee, chaired by Majority Leader Peter Imwatok, to reschedule his appearance to July 10, when he is expected back in the country.
“We wish to inform you that the County Executive Committee Member is currently in the United States of America on official assignment. We kindly request that his appearance before the Committee be rescheduled,” reads part of Mr Akumali's letter.
While the committee agreed to issue a fresh summons, members demanded proof that Mr Kerich was indeed on an official assignment.
According to Mr Imwatok, the county administration must provide details of the trip, including the officer's travel ticket, the duration of the visit, the nature of the assignment and the period he was expected to be away.
However, an affidavit filed before the High Court in a separate application seeking to suspend the arrest orders paints a different picture, indicating that the finance executive travelled to the United States for medical treatment.
In a ruling delivered on June 23, Justice Peter Mulwa declined to suspend Mr Kerich's jail term despite his claim that he was out of the country undergoing specialised medical treatment.
In his supporting affidavit, Mr Kerich stated that, "subsequent to the issuance of the said orders, I developed serious complications necessitating urgent medical attention and treatment abroad under the care of specialist medical practitioners."
He further said that his condition requires strict adherence to prescribed medication and treatment.
Nairobi County CEC for Finance and Economic Affairs Charles Kerich during the reading of the county budget on June 29, 2023.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
The arrest orders, issued by Justice Francis Gikonyo and to be executed by the Officer Commanding Station at Central Police Station, have remained unimplemented because Mr Kerich has been out of the country.
Amid his continued absence, Governor Sakaja appointed Ibrahim Nyangoya Auma as the substantive County Executive Committee Member for Finance to help streamline operations in the department ahead of the county budget reading.
