The High Court has ordered former Nairobi County finance chief Charles Kerich to appear in person on December 7, The Star reported. The case concerns KSh 76.7 million in legal fees owed to Kwengu & Company Advocates. The Standard reported that Kerich was summoned for sentencing.
Justice Francis Gikonyo also directed Governor Johnson Sakaja and two county officials, Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya and Asha Abdi, to respond within 14 days. The law firm wants the three cited for contempt because the county has not made court-ordered payments, according to The Star.
The dispute dates back to a November 27, 2024, ruling by Justice Mabeya. He ordered Nairobi County to pay the law firm KSh 106.7 million from funds owed to Foton East Africa Ltd. Kerich was later convicted of contempt for failing to comply. On May 19, 2026, he was sentenced to three months in prison.
The parties then settled, and the court adopted the deal on July 16. The county was to pay KSh 30 million immediately, KSh 36.7 million by October 15 and KSh 40 million by December 15. The advocates say only the first KSh 30 million was paid. That leaves KSh 76,736,841 outstanding. Under the deal, a missed payment automatically lifts the stay on execution. The firm can then pursue recovery.
On Wednesday, Kerich asked the court to remove him from the contempt proceedings. He argues that he stopped serving as finance chief in June 2026. He says he no longer controls county accounts and cannot authorise payments. In his view, the official now holding the finance portfolio is responsible for implementing the settlement.
The law firm opposes his request. It called the application "premature, defective and legally incompetent". According to The Star, the grounds of opposition also describe the application as misconceived, frivolous and vexatious, and as an abuse of the judicial process.
The advocates want the court to declare the settlement breached and to pursue contempt proceedings against more county officials. They also want it to compel payment of the balance. The court will consider the dispute on December 7.