Court summons PS Omollo in Sh6.5 billion IDPs compensation case

The High Court in Nakuru has summoned Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo to appear on May 26 over compensation of victims of the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

Dr Omollo is expected to shed light on why the government has failed to fulfill the promise to compensate more than 75,000 victims of the violence.

The PS will also explain the status of the Sh6.5 billion, reserved for the victims by the High Court in April 2017.

Justice Hedwig Ong’udi said it was unfortunate that the integrated internally displaced persons (IIDPs) had been led by the government, to believe that their issues would be resolved.

The IIDPs sued the PS Interior and the Attorney General (AG), seeking compensation, and the government agreed to enter into an out of court settlement.

“This is a 2017 matter with so many witnesses. For purposes of clarity to the court and parties, I hereby summon the PS Interior to appear in person,” ordered Ong’udi.

The court regretted that the negotiation began in 2021 and the court delayed the hearing to date, to allow the parties to agree, only for the government to default.

The court issued the summons on Tuesday after the AG through State Counsel Sonia Wanjeri said they had no intention to sign the consent.

According to Wanjeri, the Solicitor General had returned the consent file signed in 2022, but ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/counties/article/2001293480/how-cartels-colluded-to-steal-idp-billions">gave no instructions< on the settlement proposal.

“We shall proceed with the hearing,” she urged the court.

Lawyer Ndubi Bosibori, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision and urged the court to order the AG to file the rejection letter.

He said many witnesses had been lined up to testify and the hearing may take years to conclude.

“We need communication from the AG, money was set aside particularly for this matter,” said Ndubi.

Victims lawyer David Mongeri said negotiations had were at an advanced level and it was unfortunate that the AG, an officer of the court, had wasted their time with empty promises since 2017.

In 2017, then trial Judge Joel Ngugi, now at the Court of Appeal, ordered the Sh6.5 billion to be withheld after ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/kenya/article/2001244847/dp-ruto-idps-will-soon-get-sh1-9-billion">two groups came to court< claiming to be the beneficiaries.

The court allowed verification of the victims and their leadership and after three years the court confirmed the members and their support initiative leaders; Joakim Mwangi- chair, John Mwaniki-Secretary General and Teresia Muiruri as treasurer.

A settlement proposal was made by the victims. On April 27, 2023, the court was informed that there was no progress in settlement.

The case was mentioned on June 20, 2023 and September 21, 2023. On October 19, 2023, Justice Ong’udi was informed that there was progress in negotiations.

Ndubi said the AG was willing to consider an out-of-court settlement.

On February 1, 2024, Mongeri informed the court that all parties apart from the AG had signed the consent.

“The AG said they needed to confirm some things before signing the consent. We understand that the issue was financial,” said Mongeri.

On April 25, 2024, Ndubi confirmed that the Sh6.5 billion, reserved by the court, had been used. He said that the compensation would await the 2024/2025 financial year.

Wanjeri said she had forwarded the consent to the Solicitor General for consideration and she was waiting for further instructions.

On February 4, 2025, Mongeri insisted that it was the AG who was delaying the compensation process, since the parties had reached a settlement.

The court, dissatisfied, said the last mention would be on May 6.

The PS will appear on May 26.