High Court stops criminal proceedings against Wanjigi father

Former Cabinet Minister Maina Wanjigi got a reprieve after the High Court stopped the criminal proceedings before the Nyeri Chief Magistrate court.

High Court Judge Roselyn Aburili issued the orders saying that the petitioner has a prima facie and an arguable case.

“I’m certified that the applicant has demonstrated that he has a prima facie case for interim orders to be granted by this court,” ruled the court.

Justice Aburili further directed that the main application be filed and served within seven days starting Monday.

Mr. Maina had moved to court seeking to suspend summons to appear before the Nyeri magistrate court to take plea on charges of failing to keep safe custody of a firearm.

In a certificate of urgency filed at the Milimani law courts on Monday morning, Mr. Maina claimed that since the raid on his son’s property last year, the family has been subjected to continuous untold abuse, torment and harassment by the state solely  on account of Jimmy’s association with opposition leader Raila Odinga.

He argues that he’s recuperating at his Karen home after undergoing surgery in the United Kingdom and that he is not in a state of mind to swear an affidavit in support of the application filed by his lawyers.

Through his lawyers, Maina argues that he’s a disciplined licensed firearm holder with no record of misuse of the firearm for over 50 years.