A woman owed someone Sh18,233 and she was going to civil jail for failing to repay.
Proceedings were ongoing at the small claims court in Milimani, Nairobi, on Thursday before Resident Magistrate Justine Asiago. The woman, identified as Abigael, was not far from being sent behind bars.
Then one lawyer, Mr Mark Omuga, offered to pay the full amount.
He was following the online proceedings via Microsoft Teams, awaiting his matter to be called. But on this, he had to intervene. He had no idea how the debt had been incurred, but he was convinced that the woman on the call needed his help.
What further drew his compassion was the fact that Abigael was in attendance on the online session alongside a child who could be heard making noises.
The other lawyers following the proceedings were touched too. They said Mr Omuga should not single-handedly raise the full amount. The question became: “What if we fundraise?”
And a fundraiser ensued, with Mr Omuga being the impromptu treasurer. His M-Pesa number was shared and contributions started coming in.
Before long, the court turned into a chamber of support. The magistrate became something of an emcee, announcing what each had sent.
“Thank you very much, Kanji, for making life easier for Abigael,” he told one lawyer who had sent Sh2,000.
“Thank you very much, Nderitu. May God bless you. We are touching someone’s life right now. And that’s sometimes the work we do,” the magistrate said to another who had sent Sh3,000.
“Allow me to also check my phone. I’m not allowed to use the phone in court, but because we have to do this for the sake of Abigael, she moves on…So, I’m using my phone now,” the magistrate said at one point. He later announced that he had sent “something small”.
In came a Sh1,000 from a Mrs Kiriama; a Sh2,000 from a Mr Muriuki; a Sh2,000 from a Mr Kanji; a Sh1,500 from Mr Mbugua; a Sh1,500 from a Mr Muli; a Sh1,000 from a Miss Chepng’etich, and on and on.
“Are we on the target? We only need Sh18,233,” the magistrate asked at some point.
Mr Omuga took a while to tabulate the figures. Eventually, the lawyers and the magistrate exceeded the target.
Speaking with Nation.Africa on Saturday, Mr Omuga said he was moved by how the court officers offered support for the woman.
“The advocates really came through; the magistrate also contributed. So, eventually, we contributed about Sh22,500; I added another Sh2,000 and sent the balance to the lady after the advocate for the decree holder Sh18,233,” he said in a phone interview.
“She [Abigael] was very grateful. She said that she studied finance and banking. So, if there is someone who can assist her to get a job [she will be grateful] because right now she is working as a house help, earning Sh5,000 a month,” he added.
Mr Omuga, who works with Omuma Advocates LLP, said he did not know the woman.
“I was just attending for a different matter,” said Mr Omuga, who was admitted to the bar in 2016. “The magistrate was saying he didn’t have a choice apart from committing her to civil jail…I decided to pay the whole amount but other advocates came in and contributed.”
Mr Omuga added that the case was swiftly closed after the payment was sent. When the lawyers realised that they had overshot the target, they could be heard saying they wanted to make Abigael’s Easter.
“There is someone who is saying that we bless someone for Easter,” said the magistrate at some point. “We can always change someone’s life in a small way.”
The development attracted many thumbs-up when a recording of the proceedigs was shared on X by content creator Redempter Mwikali.
“My faith in humanity was restored,” posted Mwikali.
Raymond wrote: “This is humanity. This is empathy. This is far much better than giving offertory, tithe and donations in church. This is what we should all live for.”
“This is the true spirit of Easter,” posted Kiprop.
