Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has offered words of encouragement to activist Boniface Mwangi ahead of his sentencing today.
The high court in Machakos set the sentencing date for a case in which Mwangi was found guilty of contempt of court.
In a notice, the court announced that it would issue its verdict on November 1.
Alai encouraged Mwangi to walk with his head held high.
"As you face the court today, I wish to encourage you to walk with your head held up high unbowed and unbounded," he said.
The Kileleshwa MCA quoted James Addison on the subject of courage, saying, 'Remember the words of James Addison: 'Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty acts in a uniform manner.' Be strong and never let your courage forsake you."
An order issued on October 16, 2023, by Justice F. Rayola Ole found Mwangi to be guilty of the offence in an application dated January 11, 2022.
“...having briefly read the ruling, the court has found you in contempt of court and directed that you appear in person to show cause why you should not be sent to civil jail,” a short note sent to Mwangi by his lawyer reads.
“Please purpose to attend court on November 1, 2023."
The sentencing is a result of a suit filed by lawyer J. Harrison Kinjayui and advocates, on behalf of Tourism CS Alfred Mutua, against the activist who cited him for contempt of court.
Through his lawyers, Mutua moved to court to have the activist show cause why he should not be held for contempt of court for having expressly breached and acted in violation of a court order prohibiting him from publishing in the print, and electronic or online media defamatory material or concerning Mutua.
“Mwangi disobeyed the order on 6th and 9th January 2022 by publishing on his Twitter account content against Governor Mutua,” Kinyajui told the court.
The activist had, however, denied publishing defamatory statements but failed to appear in court twice in the defamation case.
He had been ordered to appear in court in person to show cause why he should not be jailed for disobeying court orders.
