A Nakuru Court on Thursday gave a reprieve to former President Daniel Arap Moi’s grandson, Collins Kibet, after suspending a civil jail term that was slapped on him in a case in which he was accused of neglecting his children.
The ruling came after his lawyers, Andrew Muge and George Sakimpa of Muge Law Advocates, petitioned the court to review the sentence noting that the client (Collins Kibet) was ready to settle the issues that led to his civil term.
Appearing before Nakuru Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion, the court delivered the ruling noting that it was in the best interest of the children for both parties could find ample time to deal with the issues at stake.
Kibet, who was arrested after failing to follow court orders in case of neglected children's support had been ordered to be remanded at Nakuru GK prisons. This was in a ruling delivered on Sep 1, 2024.
The magistrate, however, directed that Kibet will be released on a personal bond of Ksh1 million pending the determination of the case on October 9, 2024.
''Considering the exposed difficulty in practice of the judgment data, I admit the judgment is better to a personal bond of Ksh1 million.’’
He added that since the accused had complied with the prior ruling of the court, then the court did not find any reason to deny the appeal that had been placed before it.
The magistrate, however, noted that the decision to review the jail term slapped on him was subject to a judicial show cause on why he should not be committed to jail, which will be presented before the court on Oct 9, 2024.
''I give the following directions. This court order made on 19th of September 2024 committing the judgment to the civilian is hereby, reviewed and verified, subject to your availability on the 9th of October,’’ the magistrate directed.
''But this matter is fixed for notice to show cause for the judgment, better to show cause why it should not be committed to civil jail for failing to satisfy the Court's decree,’’ the Magistrate cautioned.
The magistrate however cautioned that the determination of the case shall be fully dependent on the constitutional rights of the affected children.
He further gave guidance to those involved in the matter that the law was very clear on matters involving a child inserting that whether the parents stay together or not, they are both committed by the law to serve the rights of the child.
Kibet was initially arrested on September 18, 2024, at Ongata Rongai after being on the run for a long time following the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him.
His problems with law enforcement authorities began in 2021 when his estranged wife, Gladys Jeruto Tagi, accused him of failing to provide upkeep for their two children.
According to reports, Kibet revealed that he was broke and could not provide for his children's needs insisting that he was living on a wellwisher budget.
