The JSC team probing bribery allegations against Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi has found he has a case to answer and recommended that he faces a tribunal.
Tunoi allegedly received Sh200 million to help deliver a favourable judgment in a petition against Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in August 2014.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said the Judicial Service Commission sub-committee was satisfied there were grounds to carry out further investigations.
Mutunga said in a television coverage on Friday that the committee would advise that President Uhuru Kenyatta sets up a tribunal to probe the claims against the judge.
“The commission is satisfied, from the totality of the material and information presented before it, that there was inappropriate interaction and communication between Justice Tunoi and agents of a litigant in a matter pending before the Supreme Court,” he said.
“This, in the opinion of the commission, amounts to gross misconduct and behaviour, sufficient to warrant the establishment of a tribunal to further investigate the matter.”
The tribunal will look into whether a bribe was given to influence the election petition by Ferdinand Waititu, who is Kabete MP. Kidero allegedly paid paid Tunoi US$2 million.
The allegations, which Kidero and Tunoi have denied, were made by Geoffrey Kiplagat, a journalist who claimed to be the middleman.
“As to whether or not there is material to suggest that a bribe was given to Justice Tunoi on August 27, 2014 the commission is satisfied that this is an issue that requires further investigation by the said tribunal,” Mutunga said.
The six person committee of the Judicial Service commission is headed by Margaret Kobia, chairperson of the Public Service Commission.
Other members are Attorney General Githu Muigai, Justice Aggrey Muchelule, Chief Magistrate (Makadara) Emily Ominde, Winnie Guchu and Kipkorir Bett, all commissioners of the JSC.
-the-star.co.ke
