CJ Mutunga said the report, which was prepared following an internal investigation he ordered on the allegations made in a sworn affidavit, was ready/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 25 – Chief Justice Willy Mutunga will on Wednesday present an internal probe report on corruption allegations against Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi to the Judicial Service Commission.
CJ Mutunga said the report, which was prepared following an internal investigation he ordered on the allegations made in a sworn affidavit, was ready.
“I ordered that thorough investigations be carried out according to our internal protocols. I also authorised that this should include cross-checking the contents of the sworn affidavit with other government agencies to verify the information contained therein. That process is now complete and a report has been concluded,” he stated.
He convened a special Judicial Service Commission (JSC) meeting on Wednesday to table the findings of the internal probe which he said will also be submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
“From the Judiciary perspective, in view of the seniority of the judge, the gravity of the allegations, and the public interest this matter has generated, I will be presenting this matter to a special sitting of JSC that I have summoned for Wednesday, 27th January at 10am.”
According to Mutunga, the JSC will act according to its laws and follow due process in handling the corruption allegations against the judge.
CJ Mutunga ordered an investigation into the corruption allegations against the judge last November after his office received the affidavit that claimed judge Tunoi received a bribe.
Mutunga once again pledged that the Judiciary will not spare any official involved in corruption which has been a major focus towards establishing a clean judicial system in the country.
“As part of the Judiciary transformation program, I have been clear and firm on the fight against corruption. This is the reason I have taken disciplinary measures against a number of Judiciary officers and invited EACC to conduct lifestyle audits for judges, magistrates, judicial officers and staff.”
Justice Tunoi who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2011 was in the headlines in 2014 after he moved to court to stop the JSC from retiring him at the age of 70.
Joined by High Court Judge David Onyancha, the two argued that their appointments came under the old Constitution which allowed them the age limit of 74.
His fate to continue serving in the Judiciary now hangs in the hands of the JSC which will base its decision on the results of the investigation into the corruption allegations.
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