Court Defers Sentencing for Nairobi’s Geoffrey Mosiria After He Fails to Appear

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, was a no-show in court on Tuesday, November 4, where he was scheduled for mitigation and sentencing in a contempt of court case.

His defence team, Martina Suga, Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta, and Stanley Kinyanjui—appeared before Justices Oscar Amugo Angote, Anne Abongo Omollo, and Charles Gitonga Mbogo at the Milimani law courts.

Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the defence asked the court to certify the matter as urgent, explaining that Mosiria had been taken ill after learning he might face a prison sentence.

“Our client was shocked upon learning he might be sent to prison. He was taken ill and has since been admitted to hospital, where he was given four days’ sick leave.”

The bench, however, declined to treat the matter as urgent but agreed to grant Mosiria a hearing on his application.

Geoffrey Mosiria during a past county event

The court directed the respondents to file a replying affidavit within 14 days, and for the applicants to submit any further affidavits and written submissions within 14 days of service.

“The respondents shall file a replying affidavit within 14 days, while the applicants shall file any further affidavits and written submissions within 14 days of service,” the court ordered

For now, Mosiria remains convicted of contempt of court pending the outcome of his application.

The case stems from a conservatory order issued on March 5, which barred the Nairobi County Government and its committees from approving or processing development applications in Parklands until a proper land use and physical plan was established.

Despite the order, members of the Parklands Residents Association accused county officials of defying the directive by allowing excavation and tree-cutting activities to continue along Jalaram Road.

Mosiria’s lawyers have since challenged the contempt finding, arguing that the signatures on the petition documents were forged. They said their client reported the forgery to Kilimani Police Station and hired a forensic investigator, who confirmed that the signature in question did not belong to him.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has opened a probe into the alleged forgery, with Kilimani SCCIO Hussein Mahat writing to the Deputy Registrar of the Environment and Land Court at Milimani seeking certified copies of all petition documents.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 349 of the Penal Code, which addresses forgery-related offences.

Mosiria’s legal team insists that as a public officer, he has always complied with the law and would not deliberately disobey a court order.

The case will be mentioned on February 2, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., when the court will issue further directions.