Former Nairobi County Finance County Executive Committee Member Charles Kerich has avoided serving a three-month jail term after the High Court lifted contempt orders issued against him following a settlement in a Sh106 million legal fees dispute.
The court was informed on Thursday that Kerich and the law firm had reached an agreement on how the outstanding legal fees will be paid, prompting the judge to set aside the earlier contempt orders.
Under the settlement, Kerich has already paid Sh30 million, with the remaining balance to be cleared through agreed instalments in accordance with a payment schedule filed in court. Kerich told the court that the delay in settling the amount resulted from administrative processes within Nairobi County and was not a deliberate refusal to obey court orders.
Earlier this month, the High Court had found him in contempt and ordered him to surrender within three days to begin serving a three-month jail sentence. The court also directed police to arrest him if he failed to surrender, warning that he would be treated as a fugitive.
After considering the parties’ settlement agreement and Kerich’s expression of remorse, the judge vacated the contempt orders, allowing him to remain at liberty as he complies with the agreed payment plan.
