Senior officials from Mandera County have been sentenced to one month in civil jail after failing to comply with a court order to settle a KSh11.7 million debt arising from a land dispute.
The Environment and Land Court sitting in Garissa issued the ruling on Tuesday, proceeding in the absence of the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance, Ibrahim Mohamed Aden, and the County Secretary, Billow Issack Hassan, both of whom had been cited for contempt of court.
The dispute centres on a parcel of land owned by decree-holder Abdullahi Sheikh Ahmed, which the Mandera County Government allegedly grabbed and developed by constructing a polytechnic without lawful acquisition.
The court had previously ordered the county to vacate the land or compensate the owner, resulting in an award of KSh11,730,733.33.
Despite clear directives, the court found that the county had neither paid the decretal sum nor deposited the money in court within the timeline provided.
“Having failed to comply with the court orders, the contemnors are hereby sentenced in absentia to serve one (1) month imprisonment,” the court ruled.
The judge also issued warrants of arrest against Ibrahim Mohamed Aden and Billow Issack Hassan, directing that they be apprehended and committed to jail.
The warrants are to be enforced jointly by the OCPD Mandera County and the OCS at Akila Police Station in Nairobi.
The sentencing marks a significant escalation in the long-running legal battle stemming from the county’s failure to honour a decree issued in Garissa ELC No. 27 of 2018.
Earlier orders issued in March 2026, following a ruling delivered on February 27 by Justice S. M. Kibunja, had given the county 30 days to settle the debt or deposit the amount in court, warning of personal consequences for the named officials.
The judge had made it clear that compliance would purge the contempt and shield the officials from punitive action. However, continued non-compliance triggered enforcement measures.
“Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the orders of the court will result in penal consequences,” a penal notice accompanying the earlier orders warned.
Lawyer Samwel Ayeko, representing the decree-holder, welcomed the decision, terming it a step toward enforcing court authority and protecting property rights.
The matter is scheduled for mention on June 4, 2026, to confirm whether the officials have been arrested and whether the outstanding amount has been settled.
