Court told AG Oduor could not honour summons because of cabinet meeting
By Zipporah Ngwatu, July 21, 2026A Kisumu High Court has been told that the Attorney General (AG) Dorcas Agik Oduor could not appear before Justice Alfred Mabeya in person today as the court had ordered.
On July 7, 2026, Judge Mabeya ordered AG Oduor to appear before him today, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to explain to court why she should not be cited for contempt of court orders.
The summons stems from orders issued on March 25, 2026, directing the Inspector General (IG) of the National Police Service (NPS) and the Attorney General (AG) to prepare, develop and publish public order management regulations to regulate and manage public demonstrations and picketing in exercise of the right and that for 37 of the Constitution.
The court found that the IG, NPS and AG had not complied with the court’s orders within the 90 days they had been given, noting that the time given expired on June 24, 2026. At the time the court issued the summons, Judge Mabeya noted that it was 13 days later with nothing to prove to the court that the orders issued had been implemented.
Attending a Cabinet meeting
When the matter came up, the court heard that the AG could not appear in person as she was attending a cabinet meeting today.
However, the court heard that AG Oduor has sent a representative, Mr Charles Mutinda, to mitigate on her behalf.
In his mitigation, Mutinda urged the court not to punish AG Oduor for contempt of court orders, adding that there was already progress on the orders issued in March 2026.
“My lord, I am here to mitigate for the Attorney General; my lord, the AG could not appear in person before you today as she was attending a cabinet meeting,” Mutinda told the court.