“Justice Must Prevail,” Mosiria Challenges Court Decision in Parklands Development Saga

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has secured a temporary reprieve after the High Court agreed to hear his application challenging a contempt ruling in the Parklands land dispute. Mosiria was set to appear before the Environment and Land Court (ELC) on Tuesday for mitigation ahead of sentencing but failed to show up.

Through his lawyer, Danstan Omari, the court learned that Mosiria fell ill after discovering he could face jail. Omari said his client was “shocked” by the possibility of imprisonment, prompting him to seek medical attention. He was issued a four-day sick-off. After reviewing the explanation, the court allowed the application to be heard first, delaying any mitigation or sentencing. “We will afford your client a hearing on the application, but it will not be as urgent because we have other matters in between,” the court directed.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched an investigation into alleged forgery linked to the same Parklands case. Kilimani Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer Hussein Mahat, in a November 4, 2025 letter, requested certified copies of all documents filed in Petition No. E012 of 2025 by Kamalkumar Rajinkant Sanghani, including affidavits and supporting evidence. The investigation, reported under OB 77/30/10/2025, is being conducted under Section 349 of the Penal Code.

The probe follows heightened scrutiny of the Parklands development saga, where a three-judge bench – Principal Judge O.A. Angote, Justice A. Omollo, and Justice C.G. Mbogo—found Mosiria guilty of contempt. The court ruled that he defied a March 5, 2025 conservatory order, which barred the county and its committees from approving or processing any development applications in Parklands until a proper physical and land-use plan was prepared.

Petitioners, led by Sanghani and the Parklands Residents Association, accused county officials of flouting the court order by allowing excavation and tree felling along Jalaram Road. Mosiria’s legal challenge and the DCI investigation underscore the high stakes and legal complexities surrounding Parklands, highlighting the ongoing tension between development ambitions and court directives.