Court Lifts Media Gag Order in Child Upkeep Case Against Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka

The High Court has quashed an order barring the media from covering a child upkeep case against Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka. 

High Court Justice Jairus Ngaah set aside the gag order on Monday following a petition filed by the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ).

“That the ex-parte application be and hereby granted leave to apply an order of certiorari to bring into this court, and quash the gag orders of the resident Magistrate, Milimani children’s court issued on July 13th, 2021 barring the media houses from accessing and commenting on the matters pertaining to civil case number E672 of 2021 against IWM and Hon Kenneth Lusaka,” judge Ngaah ordered on Monday.

The order had been issued by Resident Magistrate F. Terer of Milimani law courts following an application filed by lawyer Danstan Omari, who is representing a woman who sued Lusaka demanding Sh25 million in support for her unborn child.

Lusaka admitted to siring the applicant’s unborn child and agreed to cater to the baby’s pre-natal care and settle other issues once the infant is born.

The woman filed the case in June demanding child support of Sh200,000 monthly or a lump sum of Sh25 million from Lusaka. She also wanted Lusaka to buy her a house matching the standard of where his other children live.