Boinett given 60 days to arrest TSC boss Gabriel Lengoiboni

The High Court has given the Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinett 60 days to ‘settle’ in office and then effect an arrest warrant against the Secretary of the Teachers Service Commission Gabriel Lengoiboni.

This comes after Deputy Inspector-General of Police Samuel Arachi told the High Court Thursday that police were unable to arrest Mr Lengoiboni as he was out of the country. He said police officers will arrest the Teachers Service Commission boss Gabriel Lengoiboni as soon as he returns from a foreign trip.

Mr Lengoiboni is facing imminent arrest for failing to pay retired teachers Sh16.7 billion as pension and salary arrears.

Mr Arachi who was hailed for heeding summons to attend court in person said he had alerted the Immigration department on the pending arrest order saying Mr Lengoiboni would be immediately arrested upon setting foot on Kenyan soil.

“The Immigration department has confirmed receiving my letter requiring them to inform me when Mr Lengoiboni left and when he is expected back in the country upon which we will arrest him pursuant to the court order issued by this court,” he said.

Last month, Lady Justice Janet Mulwa directed police to arrest the TSC boss and escort him to Kamiti Maximum prison to serve a six month jail term for failing to pay teachers’ arrears.

Justice Mulwa reiterated that Mr Boinett must ensure that Mr Lengoiboni is arrested and escorted to Kamiti Maximum Prison to serve a six-month jail term for disobeying a court order.

She also urged the government to engage the retired teachers’ lawyers to speed up the release of the money so as to end the perennial suffering of the senior citizens who spent their lives serving the country.

READ: Retired teachers to get pay, pension arrears by Christmas

'Hands tied'

However, lawyer Steve Sitima told the court that Mr Lengoiboni had done all in his powers to have the mony released but his hands were tied since the matter involved numerous government departments that were unwilling to act expeditiously and have the money released to him for subsequent payment to the retired teachers.

Mr Arachi who arrived in court as ordered confirmed his office had received the order on February 26, 2015 when he was out of office attending to the East Africa Police Chiefs’ two-day symposium in Naivasha.

On February 28, he joined President Uhuru for a two-day tour of Meru and on March 1, he attended the official opening of the Maua AP Marathon and Sports Centre.

“On March 3, I resumed office and gave strict instructions to my officers to enforce the order to the letter. But Mr Lengoiboni has since left the country for an official visit to Rabat in Morocco and was due to return yesterday (Wednesday),” he said.

The deputy police boss said Immigration officials had since been placed on high alert to inform police immediately the TSC boss jets in adding that he will be arrested for subsequent escort to Kamiti Maximum Prison.

“I have placed officers on standby at the airport and others at his officers with strict instructions to arrest him upon seeing him pursuant to the court order,” he said.

The case is to be mentioned on May 28.