A senior police officer has been summoned for failing to arrest Philip Moi, the son of the late President Mzee Daniel arap Moi. The OCS Muthaiga Police Station was faulted for disobeying a warrant of arrest issued against the younger Moi in April 2019.
Philip, a retired KDF Major, failed to pay his estranged wife, Rossana Pluda, Ksh1.8 million after he lost a divorce case in 2012. The couple divorced in 2008 and fought all the way to the Court of Appeal which ruled in favour of Pluda.
High Court judge, Aggrey Muchelule ordered the OCS to appear before him on February 25 to clarify why he had not apprehended the retired army major. This was after Pluda filed a complaint in court seeking the arrest of Senator Gideon Moi's brother.
Pluda wants the court to sentence Philip to civil jail, according to papers filed by her lawyer, Senior Counsel Jusy Thongori. The attorney argued that the former KDF officer had no intention of ever paying the money.
"That I verily believe that it is in the interest of justice that the respondent is committed to civil jail," Pluda said.
The lawyer added that they declined Philip's request to offset the money in installments of Ksh 500,000 per a certain agreed period. In May 2019, he sent them a letter indicating that he would proceed with his request nonetheless.
Two months later, he sent a cheque of Ksh500,000 through his lawyers and another in December 2019 and failed to offset the balance ever since.
In 2012, Philip urged the court to declare him bankrupt claiming that he could not pay other accumulated debts coupled with his ex-wife’s demands and other legal fees. He claimed that he had been living under the mercy of his wealthy relatives.
Pluda, however, argued that he was enjoying a lavish life, owned multi-billion properties and business registered under allies and family members.
She added that he also purchased a luxurious Ksh 750,000 television and had installed a hot tub worth Ksh 300,000 at his Muthaiga home.
In 2015, the saga escalated when High Court Judge Luka Kimaru ordered Philip to pay her a lump sum of Ksh30 million. Junior Moi filed an appeal which was ruled in his favour.
Appellate judges Martha Koome, Mohammed Warsame, and Philomena Mwilu overturned the case, ruling that he did not have to pay the bill on top of according her a house in Runda, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani or Karen.
Pluda did not attend Mzee Moi's burial in Kabarak owing to the escalated divorce row. Her son Kibet Moi, and daughter Talissa Moi were present at the ceremony.
Pluda only posted several photos on her social media pages to celebrate the former President.
