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Judge Tunoi set to know fate after Sh200mn bribery probe

Nairobi governor Evans Kidero and his lawyer Ochieng Oduol leave Supreme Court building after appearing before JSC committee over Tunoi bribery claims/CFM

Nairobi governor Evans Kidero and his lawyer Ochieng Oduol leave Supreme Court building after appearing before JSC over Tunoi bribery committee claims/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 3 – The special committee constituted last week to investigate the Sh200 million bribery allegations levelled against Supreme Court Justice Philip Tunoi will Wednesday make its findings known to the Judicial Service Commission.

The JSC will then bear the responsibility of deciding whether or not to begin the process of Justice Tunoi’s removal from office by recommending to the President that a tribunal be formed to investigate his conduct.

Committee Chairperson Margaret Kobia on Monday said she was optimistic that they would meet Wednesday’s deadline after hearing from those adversely mentioned in the alleged corruption of the Supreme Court judge.

The committee on Monday heard from one Geoffrey Kiplagat who through an affidavit, accused Tunoi of receiving a Sh200 million bribe from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in order to ensure that he emerged victorious over now Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu who had challenged his election.

READ: How Kidero bought a judge: the whistleblower’s claim

On the same morning it also heard from Tunoi, the accused, who has described Kiplagat’s allegations as “cheap fiction” fabricated by the JSC with whom he’s embroiled in a retirement dispute.

READ: Show me the money, Tunoi tells JSC over alleged bribe

On Tuesday the committee heard from Kidero who threatened to sue “damn great” all those who had accused him of bribing the judge. Particularly, lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi who on Sunday alleged that the amount Kidero paid out was Sh300 million and not Sh200 million, and not to just the one judge.

READ: Kidero trains guns on lawyer Ahmednasir in Tunoi bribery saga

It also heard from lawyer Katwa Kigen who Kiplagat claims drove Tunoi to receive the bribe.

Issa Mansur who acted as commissioner for oaths for Kiplagat was also summoned; Tunoi having accused him of abetting the JSC’s machinations to forcibly remove him from office.

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Businessman Mike Njeru also appeared before the committee on Tuesday and rebutted Kiplagat’s claim that he was involved in the alleged compromising of the judge.

He testified that Kiplagat threatened to, “peddle his falsehoods,” in an attempt to blackmail him a year ago. “You must ask yourself why it took him a year to submit the affidavit to the authorities,” Njeru’s lawyer, Andrew Musangi, posed.

READ: Businessman alleges blackmail in Tunoi bribery saga

The members of the JSC charged with determining what action should be taken next are, other than Kobia; Attorney General Githu Muigai, High Court Justice Aggrey Muchelule, Emily Ominde, Winnie Guchu and Kipkorir Bett.

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