The High Court in Nakuru was on Tuesday told that Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai's co-petitioner in a case seeking to stop six Narok politicians from impeaching him has been threatened.
The court also heard that there is fresh tension as a result of the disputed Ol Kiombo Ranch in which the governor is said to have sought legal intervention to reclaim it from a private investor related to one of the politicians.
Lady Justice Maureen Odero, who extended gagging orders against the politicians and two others from demonstrations in a plot to impeach Tunai, heard that co-petitioner, Caroline Sopiato has been warned of dire consequences if she does not withdraw the suit.
The legislators fronting the impeachment are MPs Patrick Ntutu (Narok West), Korei Lemein (Narok South), Johana Ng'eno (Emurua Dikirr) and Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North), Senator Stephen ole Ntutu, and former ambassador Julius Sunkuli.
Judge Odero further directed that the politicians be served with court documents and orders through newspaper advertisement as a way of substituted service.
This was after the petitioners' lawyer Steve Biko Osur said it is still difficult to effect the service of the orders as a result of alleged hostility by the politicians.
The substituted service had in March been published.
The suit has never been heard since it was filed last year as a result of the alleged impossibility to effect direct service of court documents upon the respondents.
And in July, the court extended the orders barring the MPs from any demonstrations aimed at impeaching the governor after the petitioners claimed the MPs had embarked on a massive collection of signatures to irregularly impeach Tunai.
"The respondents have opted for Makueni-style signature collection instead and that their demonstrations earlier this year led to three deaths," Lawyer Biko had argued.
The High Court had on January 14 barred the politicians from holding any meetings or demonstrations in an alleged hatched plan to oust Tunai.
In the case, Tunai claims that the demonstrations are a ploy by the politicians to illegally remove him from office. He argues that the politicians should employ judicial mechanisms.
In November last year, the leaders joined the public in demonstrations against the governor, where they gave Tunai a two-week ultimatum to resign for allegedly failing to deliver.
However, Tunai sought orders to stop the leaders from participating in the demonstrations, saying the meetings were causing tension.
Judge Odero also directed that the case be transferred to the newly established High Court in Narok for further directions to be mentioned on October 30.