NAIROBI, Kenya — Katiba Institute has filed an urgent contempt of court application against economist David Ndii and political strategist Harriet Chigai, accusing them of willfully defying a High Court order issued earlier this week.
The court ruling, issued on 22 January 2026, declared the creation and staffing of presidential advisor offices unconstitutional.
Despite the ruling being binding and publicly reported, KI alleges that the two individuals continued to act in defiance of the order.
In the court filing, Katiba Institute claims that Chigai continued to function publicly as a presidential advisor, while Ndii posted statements on X challenging the ruling and questioning the authority and independence of the judiciary.
“This conduct undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust in the justice system, and intimidates courts,” the institute said in a statement.
Katiba Institute Files Contempt of Court Application Over Disobedience of Court Orders:Katiba Institute has today filed an urgent Contempt of Court Application, seeking to hold David Ndii (1st Interested Party) and Harriet Chigai (5th Interested Party) accountable for wilfully
Katiba Institute is asking the High Court to punish the two for contempt in accordance with the law.
The institute is also urging all state officers to respect and comply with court orders and uphold judicial independence.
KI further called on law enforcement and oversight bodies to act decisively to protect the courts and ensure accountability for any violations of court orders.
The move signals a growing tension between the judiciary and some political actors, amid ongoing debates about the role and legitimacy of presidential advisory offices in Kenya.
