Tunoi probe team to give its report today

Public Service Commission (PSC) boss Margaret Kobia (center) addresses the media on the progress of investigations into the alleged bribery of Justice Philip Tunoi. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The team called nine witnesses, including Justice Tunoi, Dr Kidero and whistle-blower Geoffrey Kiplagat.
  • Questions will however be raised whether the judge acted alone, given that the Supreme Court sits as a bench.

Focus shifts to the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) committee investigating a bribery allegation against a Supreme Court judge as they give a report of their finding today.

The committee, chaired by Public Service Commission (PSC) boss Margaret Kobia, was on Wednesday scheduled to give its verdict on whether Justice Philip Tunoi received the Sh202 million bribe from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, but asked for two more days to finalise their findings.

According to Prof Kobia, they took very serious the allegations and wanted to consider all the evidence which could lead them to a just conclusion.

“Bribery allegations against a judge are taken seriously by the JSC and the decision cannot be rushed. We had to gather all the information including visiting the petrol station where the money was allegedly delivered,” she said.

The PSC boss added that the committee was not a tribunal to act decisively on the claims, and that their role is to submit their findings to the entire JSC chaired by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who shall then act on the recommendations.

The team called nine witnesses, including Justice Tunoi, Dr Kidero and whistle-blower Geoffrey Kiplagat.

Should the committee find merit in Mr Kiplagat’s claims that Justice Tunoi received the bribe from Dr Kidero to influence the election petition filed by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu, the JSC will recommend to the president to suspend the judge and appoint a tribunal to investigate his conduct.

If the tribunal finds him guilty, they will recommend his sacking.

He will then become the first Supreme Court judge to be sent home for receiving a bribe to influence a judgment.

Questions will however be raised whether the judge acted alone, given that the Supreme Court sits as a bench.