JSC to decide Tunoi fate over Kidero Sh200m bribery claims

From left: Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Justice Philip Tunoi. PHOTOS FILE 

By SANDRA CHAO-BLASTO, schao@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Geoffrey Kiplagat, the whistle-blower, says in the affidavit that Justice Tunoi received $2 million from Nairobi governor Evans Kidero to have an election petition filed by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu dismissed.
• The former Kass FM journalist claimed that he acted as a go-between for the two parties in order to have the case ruled in favour of Dr Kidero.
• Mr Kiplagat went on air on Sunday night to reveal details of the alleged corruption scandal, saying he had confessed to clear his mind.

Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi will Wednesday know his fate, following damaging claims of his involvement in a corruption scandal during the hearing of an election petition two years ago.

More details on the alleged bribery involving hundreds of millions of shillings emerged Monday after Chief Justice Willy Mutunga told the media that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will hold a special sitting to deliberate on the matter.

Dr Mutunga said he was aware of the allegations and had undertaken to have the same investigated.

“I received a complaint against a Supreme Court Judge by way of a sworn affidavit in November 2015 and ordered that thorough investigations be carried out in line with our internal protocols,” he said.

Dr Mutunga said he had also authorized the cross-checking of the contents of the affidavit with other government agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, to have the information verified.

“The process is now complete and a report has been concluded. I intend to forward the report to the JSC as provided by the Constitution,” he said.

Dr Mutunga did not reveal contents of the said report, but noted that “other government agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions, will get copies of the report.”

“From the Judiciary perspective, in view of the seniority of the judge and the gravity of the allegations and the public interest this matter has generated, I will be presenting our findings to a special sitting of the JSC on Wednesday,” he said.

Geoffrey Kiplagat, the whistle-blower, says in the affidavit that Justice Tunoi received $2 million from Nairobi governor Evans Kidero to have an election petition filed by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu dismissed.