In a dramatic turn of events at Milimani High Court on November 4, 2025, lawyer Ndegwa Njiru brought his client, Ashwin Shah, to court in an ambulance to respond to a show cause order. The situation caused tension in the courtroom as Judge Njoki Mwangi questioned the theatrics surrounding the arrival of the plaintiff.
The court had been previously informed that Ashwin Shah was in the vicinity but unable to enter the courtroom due to his condition. Upon being brought in an ambulance, the judge expressed surprise and asked why she had not been notified in advance about the plaintiff’s condition and the dramatic mode of transport. In response, Njiru explained that he had tried to address the court regarding his client’s immobility, but had been muted when attempting to do so.
Despite the lawyer’s explanation, Judge Njoki maintained that no prior notice had been given about Shah’s medical condition. The judge reminded the court of her previous ruling in which she had ordered both Shah and an auctioneer to appear in court, following a case that had been ongoing for over a year. The court had been forced to issue a warrant for Shah’s arrest after his continued failure to attend hearings.
In a previous session in October 2025, the judge had explicitly stated that no further audience would be given to Shah unless he appeared in court personally or was brought by law enforcement. The refusal to attend court led to a series of legal applications and hearings, but Shah continued to avoid the proceedings.
Further complicating matters, Shah’s legal team had repeatedly cited his illness, claiming he suffers from dementia. However, Judge Njoki questioned this claim, pointing out that the plaintiff had continued to file applications, issue instructions, and swear affidavits—actions that would be unlikely for someone suffering from dementia.
As a result, the court ruled that Shah would not be able to answer to the notice to show cause while being transported in an ambulance. The judge ordered that once Shah recovers from his illness, he should be presented in court between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on any weekday by the Parklands Police Station.
This ruling left the proceedings in limbo, pending Shah’s recovery and his ability to attend court in person.
