Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

Kenya

JSC forms special committee to probe Justice Tunoi

The committee, which will include Attorney General Githu Muigai, will be chaired by Professor Margaret Kobia of the Public Service Commission/FILE

The committee, which will include Attorney General Githu Muigai, will be chaired by Professor Margaret Kobia of the Public Service Commission/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 27 – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has now formed a special committee of six members to investigate corruption allegations against Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi.

The committee, which will include Attorney General Githu Muigai, will be chaired by Professor Margaret Kobia of the Public Service Commission.

Other members will include: “ Hon Aggrey Muchelule, Hon. Emily Ominde, Hon. Winnie Guchu and Hon Kipkorir Bett.”

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said the committee has been given seven days to table their findings.

“The special committee has been given 7 days within which to enquire into the matter and report back to JSC on February 3, 2016,” he said.

Justice Tunoi is accused of receiving more than Sh200 million from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to favour him in the election petition filed by Kabete Member of Parliament Ferdinand Waititu.

Mutunga has assured the country that the matter will be held, “with utmost fairness, independence and fidelity to the Constitution.”

Tunoi however, denies the accusations which he blames on succession politics in the Judiciary and 2017 presidential elections.

The claims were made by one Geoffrey Kiplagat in a sworn affidavit claiming to have acted as a “bridge,” in the exchange of Sh202 million between Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Justice Tunoi so that the latter would sway the Supreme Court decision on the Constitutionality of the former’s election in his favour.

The Supreme Court in August 2014 adjudged that and an appeal filed by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu challenging Kidero’s election into office should not have been entertained by the Court of Appeal as it was time barred and thereby upheld Kidero’s election.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

READ: Kidero remains Nairobi Governor – Supreme Court

Following the revelation that money could have exchanged hands, Waititu now wants the decision reviewed.

“I have all along told Nairobians that something wrong had actually happened in the ruling, and I want to make a passionate appeal to the Chief Justice, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), National Intelligence Services (NIS) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to carry out a thorough investigations and make sure they satisfy the doubts that have now been created to the minds of Kenyans, that the Judiciary is corrupt. I want to tell the Chief Justice that the Judiciary is on trial,” he said at a press briefing in Mombasa on Tuesday.

READ: Waititu wants review of petition verdict after bribery claims

Tunoi who is currently embroiled in a retirement dispute with the JSC, has denied ever receiving a bribe and said the allegations are part of a conspiracy to, “hound,” him out of office.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News