EACC, DPP blocked from arresting and prosecuting Magistrate Atambo

Thika Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo has gotten a reprieve after the High Court issued an order preventing investigative agencies from arresting or prosecuting her over allegations of economic crimes.

Justice Chacha Mwita ruled that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) cannot proceed with Atambo’s arrest or prosecution for matters linked to a search conducted at her residence in March this year.

"There is a legitimate issue regarding the identity of the accused individual in the criminal case. Given this, I find that interim orders are warranted at this stage," the judge stated.

According to the court, the orders will remain in place until June 10, when it will give further directions in the case.

Meanwhile, the respondents have been instructed to submit and serve their responses to the petition and application before the court.

Atambo had moved to the High Court to challenge what she termed an imminent and unlawful arrest after the EACC said it had recovered Sh2 million in a laptop bag at her Syokimau home, suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The recovery preceded the acquisition of search warrants from a Magistrate’s Court, allowing EACC to enter her premises and seize documents related to their ongoing investigations.