Nullify Kidero’s election now, Waititu tells Supreme Court
Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu. Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu on Tuesday said the Supreme Court ruling in 2014 that gave the Nairobi governorship to Dr Evans Kidero should be quashed “in the interest of justice” PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
What you need to know:
- This follows allegations that Dr Kidero bribed Justice Philip Tunoi the equivalent of Sh200 million to rule in his favour, claims which the Nairobi governor has denied.
- Should the judge be found guilty, Mr Waititu said, he should be arrested and charged in a court of law.
- Dr Kidero refuted claims that he had bribed to have the ruling in his favour, calling the whistle-blower “a boy” who had concocted “outrageous” fiction.
Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu on Tuesday said the Supreme Court ruling in 2014 that made Dr Evans Kidero retain Nairobi governorship should be quashed “in the interest of justice”.
This follows reports that Dr Kidero bribed Justice Philip Tunoi Sh200 million to rule in his favour, claims that the governor has denied.
Mr Waititu urged police and the Judiciary to conduct investigations into the matter and take action immediately.
“I have all along told Nairobi residents that something went wrong during the ruling,” Mr Waititu said in Mombasa on Tuesday.
“I am making a passionate appeal to the Chief Justice, National Intelligence Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.”
Dr Kidero refuted claims that he bribed the judge to influence the ruling, saying the whistleblower was “a boy who had concocted outrageous fiction”.
“I have never met Justice Tunoi or the said Geoffrey Kiplagat. I only see Tunoi on TV,” he said.
In his first interview with the Nation since the damning claims against him surfaced, Dr Kidero “wondered” how Sh202 million could be carried in a briefcase.
Mr Waititu said the case had confirmed fears that the Judiciary was corrupt.
He said in order to restore the public confidence in the Judiciary, CJ Willy Mutunga “should make sure justice is given to the voters of Nairobi”.
Dr Kidero also denied being picked up by Nairobi businessman Kiprop Chirchir on the day the money was reportedly handed to the judge.
“I don’t drive in other people’s cars. This is one of the most interesting fiction of our time,” Dr Kidero said.
“When I saw this boy narrating the story on TV yesterday, I was amazed at the magic he used to come up with the tale.”
Mr Chirchir, too, expressed shock about the whole story and denied ever meeting Mr Kiplagat.
“I surely don’t know Mr Kiplagat. I have never met him or even talked to him. I have also never driven Governor Kidero. I don’t carry his money,” he said.
Mr Kiplagat was among Kass FM founding journalists, alongside former radio presenter Joshua Sang who is facing crimes against humanity charges at the ICC.
He was later moved from Kass FM to the defunct Kass Magazine before eventually ending up at Kass Weekly.
MAN WHO COULD DESTROY KIDERO
Shy and gifted: Acquaintances on Tuesday painted Mr Geoffrey Kiplagat, the man who threatens to end Dr Evans Kidero’s career and that of Justice Philip Tunoi, as shy but gifted at striking business deals.
Lelmet: Known to many as Lelmet — his middle name — Mr Kiplagat is a trained journalist and a politician who contested Keiyo South parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket in 2013 to finish a distant fourth, behind URP’s Jackson Kiptanui.
Village life: Childhood friends traced his roots in Sitotwa village of Chepkorio ward in Keiyo South Constituency. He is believed to have been born in the early 70s.
School: He attended Kaptega Primary School and Simotwo Secondary School.
KIMC: He later transferred to Lelboinet Secondary School then the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. He was a close associate of Fidel Odinga.
