November 8, 1999: Nairobi town clerk Zipporah Wandera is freed from jail. Looking haggard after spending six nights in prison, she is finally released after apologising to the judge who jailed her for contempt of court. The judge, Mr. Justice Johnson Mitey, also freed three other council officials jailed with her but he strongly criticised one of them – chief litigation counsel Rashid Mwakiwiwi for failing to advise the town clerk over the issue. The judge ordered Mwakiwiwi to pay a fine of Sh 10,000 or in default to serve the full sentence of 28 days in civil jail. Mr. Mwakiwiwi disclosed in his testimony that he was served with a court order but he did not advice Mrs. Wandera. He could have deliberately failed to notify her and he is the architect of all that has befallen them”, said Mr. justice Mitey. Here, Mrs. Wandera is being escorted to start her jail term.

Photo|Nation Syndication