Defence PS jailed for six months due to contempt

The Defence Permanent Secretary Dr Ibrahim Mohammed has been committed to six months civil jail for failing to pay five former military officers Sh12.5 million for illegal detention during the 1982 coup.

Five former Servicemen had worked in the Armed Forces between 1975 and 1982 and lodged the claim 30 years after the alleged violation.

High Court Justice Jairus Ngaah yesterday ruled that the PS was guilty of contempt after he failed to comply with court orders requiring him to show up in court and explain why he has failed to honour a judgement that was delivered on November 14, 2017.

Attempted coup

“I find that the Permanent Secretary for Defence, having failed to turn up in court and mitigate why he has not obeyed court orders I hereby commit him to six months civil jail,” ruled the judge.

The five former service men are Joel Lekukuton, Joseph Yopsoi, Jason Leariong, James Longipo and William Seketian had been fired and detained for allegedly taking part in the failed coup.

In August 1982, there was a mutiny and attempted coup in Kenya by elements within the armed forces which was short lived, several arrests were made and deaths recorded, the ex-service men claim to have entangled in the entire scene leading to not only their discharge from the forces but also their detention and imprisonment in certain cases.

In court documents the five had submitted that their rights had been violated for unlawful detention and lost their liberty by being treated inhumane by being locked up in waterlogged and dark cells.