A Nairobi courtroom erupted in laughter when a foreign national facing immigration charges requested “good food” while in custody, expressing dissatisfaction with the standard meals provided.
The individual appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutai at the Milimani Law Courts, where he is charged with being in Kenya without valid legal documentation.
As the court was handling routine pre-trial directions, the unusual exchange took place.
After the magistrate ordered that he remain in custody until the next mention of his case, the man immediately raised concerns about food, telling the court he had not been receiving ‘adequate meals’ while in remand.
“They have not been feeding me,” he stated.
The magistrate assured him that food would be provided during his time in custody.
However, the conversation shifted when the accused sought more details about the type of meals he would receive.
He went on to criticize the standard remand diet, specifically mentioning ugali and cabbage, which drew noticeable reactions in the courtroom.
“I should be given good food… ugali and cabbage… is that what you are saying should happen? No, I don’t think so,” he said, causing those present to laugh.
The magistrate, maintaining courtroom decorum, declined to make specific directives regarding the request, advising him to accept the meals provided at the correctional facility.
She further emphasized that he would be properly fed while in custody.
“There is food where you are going,” the magistrate remarked, prompting another round of subdued laughter in the courtroom.
At one point, the man insisted on better meals, stating, “I need food, I need water,” while trying to highlight his concerns about the quality and quantity of the food he had been receiving.
A court officer later escorted him from the dock following the brief exchange, which had temporarily disrupted the otherwise formal proceedings.
The man is accused of being in Kenya without valid immigration documents, a charge he has denied.
He informed the court that he was unable to regularize his stay because his travel documents were allegedly confiscated by immigration authorities, a claim that will be examined during the trial process.
The case is set to proceed to a pre-trial stage on June 8, 2026, when the court is expected to provide further directions on how to handle the case.
The incident briefly transformed a routine court session into an unexpectedly lighthearted moment before proceedings returned to normal.