The High Court in Kabarnet, Baringo County, has issued warrants of arrest against Eldama Ravine Member of Parliament Musa Sirma for failing to settle over Sh2.7 million owed to former MP Moses Lessonet from a 2017 election petition.
The arrest order was issued by Deputy Registrar Caroline Tabuche, who directed the Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja to enforce the ruling after Sirma and his lawyer failed to appear in court to explain the delay in payment.
Why the Arrest Warrant Was Issued
Court documents show that on August 21, 2025, MP Sirma was served with a notice to show cause why he should not be committed to civil jail for failing to honor the court-ordered costs.
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On September 3, 2025, his lawyer appeared in court and claimed that payment had already been made, requesting more time to provide proof. The court granted him 14 days.
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However, during the next mention, neither Sirma nor his lawyer appeared in court, and no proof of payment was filed.
Lawyer Kipkoech Ngetich, representing Lessonet, applied for warrants of arrest, arguing that Sirma was in contempt of court.
“Despite promising to file proof of payment, the same has not been done. Furthermore, the MP and his lawyer are absent, we pray for warrants of arrest,” Kipkoech submitted.
In her ruling, Tabuche concurred, noting that Sirma had failed to comply with earlier directions.
Background: The 2017 Election Petition
The legal dispute dates back to the 2017 General Elections, when Sirma lost the Eldama Ravine parliamentary seat to Moses Lessonet.
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Sirma filed a petition against Lessonet, the IEBC, and Returning Officer Peter Kuria, seeking to have the results nullified over alleged irregularities.
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On March 2, 2018, Justice Edward Muriithi dismissed the petition, ruling that Sirma had failed to provide evidence of electoral malpractice.
The judge further ordered Sirma to pay Sh2 million each to the three respondents — a total of Sh6 million — as compensation for costs incurred.
“The Petitioner has caused unnecessary expense to the respondents in defending multiple applications, and he is liable to pay them for costs,” ruled Justice Muriithi.
Failed Appeal and Accrued Costs
Unhappy with the decision, Sirma appealed, but in May 2018, Court of Appeal judges Fatuma Sichale, Sankale Kantai, and Peter Waki (retired) dismissed his case.
They found that his notice of appeal was invalid and incompetent, leaving the High Court ruling intact.
On November 19, 2018, the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal calculated Lessonet’s costs at Sh3.22 million, including taxation fees.
However, court records indicate that to date, Sirma has only paid Sh500,000, leaving an outstanding balance of more than Sh2.7 million.
Political and Legal Implications
The court’s move to issue a warrant of arrest against a sitting MP highlights the growing judicial enforcement of accountability in election-related disputes.
For Sirma, a veteran politician, the looming arrest could significantly affect his political standing in Eldama Ravine and weaken his credibility ahead of the 2027 elections.
The case also underscores the broader issue of defaulted legal costs by politicians who pursue election petitions but fail to honor court-ordered obligations after losing.
Conclusion
With the warrant now in force, the Inspector General has been instructed to arrest MP Musa Sirma and present him in court. Unless he settles the Sh2.7 million debt, he risks being committed to civil jail.
For Moses Lessonet, the ruling represents another victory in a protracted legal battle that began in 2017.