Gor Mahia Chairman Ambrose Rachier.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 17 – The High Court in Nakuru on Tuesday issued a warrant of arrest against five Gor Mahia officials for failing to meet hotel accommodation arrears amounting to Sh500, 000.
Resident Magistrate Wilson Kitur issued the orders against Gor Mahia Chairman, Ambrose Rachier, Vice Chairman, John Pesa, Secretary General Ronald Ngala, Kennedy Otieno, and Team Manager Jolawi Obondo for failing to honor a court order demanding the club to pay the hotel arrears.
The officials were also required to appear in court Tuesday but they absconded.
Kitur said that having failed to honor the judgment of the court in 2015, they had a chance of appearing before the court to show cause but failed.
Donnies Bar and Hotel Limited sued the senior officials and wants the club chairman, Rachier to explain why he should not be subjected to civil jail for disobeying a court order directing them to pay the Sh500, 000 arrears.
Through lawyer Gordon Ogola, the hotel wants the court to commit Rachier to a civil jail for failure to pay the dues despite a court order.
“Gor Mahia have neglected to honor and pay the whole amount and the balance is totaling to Sh437, 080,” Ogola said.
Gor are scheduled to depart Monday for South Africa to take on SuperSport United in the return leg of CAF confederation Cup.
The hotel sued the record 16-time Kenyan Premier League champions in June 2017 but the club failed to enter appearance prompting the court to issue a decree ordering Gor to pay the amount.
He wants the club compelled by the court to pay the arrears and cost of the suit.
Gor were in Nakuru for a pre-season match friendly against Western Stima when the players stayed at the hotel.
The club responded by depositing Sh100, 000 but failed to proceed to fully settle the amount.
According to Ogola, the hotel rendered accommodation services to Gor Mahia team on January 19, 2015 totaling to a fee of Sh637, 080.
The case will be mentioned on May 8.
-By Wanjiru Macharia-
