Billionaire Humphrey Kariuki was forced to cancel a press conference he had planned to hold on Monday.
This was after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji, moved to block Kariuki's attempt to gain favour in the court of public opinion.
The DPP through his assistant Vincent Monda, requested chief magistrate Martha Mutuku to effect a gag order that would bar the billionaire from making comments outside the court regarding his case.
In response, chief magistrate Mutuku declared that she was not the trial magistrate, adding that such applications could only be made to trial magistrate Francis Andayi.
Mr Kariuki had earlier on Monday announced that he would be addressing the public after his hearing.
"Mr Humphrey Kariuki and his legal team will address members of the media today Monday, September 2, 2019, at the Milimani Court immediately after the mention of his Alleged Tax Offences case set for 9 am before Court Number 1. You are invited to cover the briefing," an excerpt of the statement shared by his legal team disclosed.
However, the tycoon called off the briefing, with his lawyers Kioko Kilukumi and Cecil Miller announcing the abrupt cancellation after the mentioning of the case.
"Due to developments in court earlier today, the scheduled press conference did not take place. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused," the billionaire announced.
Kariuki and his co-directors have denied criminal charges of alleged tax evasion amounting to Ksh41 billion.
The city billionaire has been under fire, only recently an Administration Police officer, Samuel Mwaura, slid and fell to death while on duty at the businessman's Africa Spirits plant in Thika town, Kiambu County.
