High Court bars arrest, detention of lawyer Odero Okello, law firm partners
Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued interim conservatory orders restraining the respondents from “summoning, arresting, detaining, arraigning, charging or prosecuting” Okello over 10 criminal charges, including forgery, resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.
The High Court has barred the arrest, detention and prosecution of Nairobi lawyer Benard Odero Okello and extended the protection to advocates, staff and agents of his law firm, pending the hearing of his case.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued interim conservatory orders restraining the respondents from “summoning, arresting, detaining, arraigning, charging or prosecuting” Okello over 10 criminal charges, including forgery, resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.
The orders were issued in chambers after Okello moved to the High Court seeking protection from arrest and prosecution.
The lawyer had appeared before the Kibera Law Courts on September 10, 2026 but did not take a plea after the prosecution was informed that the High Court had issued orders stopping further proceedings against him.
Justice Mwamuye subsequently directed Okello’s “immediate and unconditional release” and halted any further action against him pending the inter partes hearing and determination of his application.
Justice Mwamuye issued the orders in chambers after considering an application filed by Okello on September 11, 2026, seeking protection from arrest and prosecution.
The court also extended the protective orders to advocates, staff and agents of Odero & Partners Advocates in matters relating to instructions from or transactions involving the Kenya County Government Workers Union.
The criminal charges against Okello largely stem from allegations surrounding documents filed in ELRC Cause No. E068 of 2022, a labour dispute involving the union.
Prosecutors accuse him of forging the signatures of Calvince Okello, Festus Ngari and Benson Oliang’a Oriaro on a Change of Signatory and Fee Note Agreement and allegedly presenting the document before the Employment and Labour Relations Court during taxation proceedings knowing it was false.
Other forgery allegations relate to documents linked to a claim against Nairobi County Government over alleged unpaid salaries and unremitted deductions for union branch members.
The remaining charges arise from his arrest at Wesley House in Westlands, where prosecutors allege that he resisted being handcuffed, struggled with police officers and attempted to escape.
The charge sheet further alleges that Okello “wilfully assaulted” PC Simon Mwaniki and PC Stephen Ndirangu while they were performing their duties.
The High Court has directed Okello to serve the respondents and the Kenya County Government Workers Union, which has been joined as an interested party, with his application, petition and the court order.
He must file an affidavit of service by close of business on September 14, setting the stage for the inter partes hearing of the application.
