Former President Daniel Moi’s grandson is facing another jail term for contempt of court after fresh arrest orders were issued against him.
Nakuru Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibellion issued a fresh warrant of arrest against Mr Collins Kibet after it emerged that he had failed to comply with the new orders to support his children’s needs.
Collins Kibet, the grandson of former president Daniel Moi, at the Nakuru Law Courts on September 26, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
The orders, which were issued on February 13, directed Mr Kibet to pay school fees for one child in their current school while facilitating the other one to enrol at the school at Kabarak. This, according to the court, was to be done at the beginning of the second term.
He further directed Mr Kibet to enrol both children to the Kabarak Health Care Centre Medical Scheme and make available a medical scheme that will cover the children outside Kabarak within three months.
However, Ms Elizabeth Wangare, the lawyer representing Mr Kibet’s ex-wife Gladys Jeruto Tagi, told the court on Thursday that Mr Kibet had not complied with either of the orders.
Ms Wangare said that efforts to reach out to his lawyers to push for compliance were futile as none of them were responding to her correspondences.
“We have not received any correspondence from either of the advocates and on my part I pray for the warrant of arrest against the respondent,” submitted Ms Wangari.
Collins Kibet (centre), the grandson of former president Daniel Moi, is led to a prison vehicle after he was sentenced to jail for contempt on September 19, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
The magistrate, while granting the prayers, directed the OCS of Central Police Station to execute the arrest orders.
Mr Kibet has been a man under siege for the last four years since his ex-wife, Ms Tagi, took him to court, accusing him of neglecting his children.
She accused him of forfeiting to her his parental obligation towards the two children who were still in school.
The court in its ruling in 2022 directed Mr Kibet to take care of the children’s education, medical insurance, clothing and part of the entertainment.
Ms Tagi returned to court in 2024 accusing him of disobeying the orders and sought for his committal to civil jail for contempt of court.
She sought to be refunded the money she had spent on the expenses that were meant for Mr Kibet for the two years since the court’s judgment, amounting to over Sh2 million.
Collins Kibet (centre), the grandson of former president Daniel Moi, is led to a prison vehicle after he was sentenced to jail for contempt on September 19, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
The application saw Mr Kibet arrested and jailed for a month before he agreed to support the children.
Attempts by Mr Kibet to set aside the judgment of 2022 were unsuccessful after the court declined to set aside the notice to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt.
Magistrate Kibellion gave Mr Kibet six months to comply with the orders. He further noted that Mr Kibet had not provided sufficient reasons to warrant varying the orders.
“It is not in doubt that where a valid court judgment exists, it must be followed to the latter… I do not find any ground to review and or set aside the judgement as it is,” ruled Mr Kibellion.
