Charles Kerich, the suspended Nairobi County Finance Executive, has been ordered to immediately surrender to prison after the High Court declined to suspend his three-month jail term for contempt of court over unpaid Sh106.7 million in legal fees.

The order was handed down by Justice John Mativo on Thursday, July 7, after it was announced that Kerich would not pay the amount within the stipulated time frame.

Kerich's journey to this moment began on June 17 when a Nairobi High Court ruling directed him to pay Sh106.7 million to cover legal fees associated with a case involving the Nairobi County government.

According to the ruling, the Nairobi Finance Executive had been sued by lawyer Danstan Omari over unpaid legal fees for representing the county government in a case. After winning the case, Omari demanded Sh106.7 million in unpaid fees.

However, Kerich's office failed to pay the amount despite being ordered to do so by the court. This resulted in a contempt of court charge, following which the Finance Executive was sentenced to three months in prison.

Charles Kerich has been the subject of controversy in recent years, with some critics accusing him of mismanaging county funds. The suspended finance executive has, however, maintained that he has done nothing wrong, pointing out that he has paid most of the county's debts during his tenure.

Despite Thursday's setback, Kerich's lawyers have hinted that they will appeal the ruling.

Kerich's case is set to have a ripple effect in the country's finance sector, with many officials and business leaders on high alert as the courts continue to crack down on those who refuse to pay debts or defy court orders.

Kerich's suspension and subsequent imprisonment could be seen as a warning to others who have defied court orders in the past.

The Nairobi Finance Executive has been suspended from office since January 2024.

In related news, Kerich's office was ordered to pay another Sh30 million to a contractor for work done on the county's infrastructure projects.

The Sh106.7 million that Kerich was ordered to pay is in addition to the Sh30 million that his office is expected to pay to the contractor.

The case against Kerich has been ongoing for months, with both sides presenting evidence to the court.

Kerich has denied any wrongdoing in the case.

The case is a major blow to Kerich's reputation as a finance executive and could have implications for his future in the sector.