The tribunal investigating former Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi over a Sh200 Million bribery saga has prematurely ended its probe.
Giving the ruling on Monday, tribunal chairman Sharad Rao indicated that the committee would present the evidence collected to President Uhuru Kenyatta without giving any verdict.
The chairman stated that the probe team resolved to end its proceedings since Justice Tunoi had duly retired after a Court of Appeal ruling that was upheld by the Supreme Court. The ruling indicated that Judges should retire at the age of 70 years.
According to the Sharad Rao-led team, the probe was supposed to be directed towards a serving judicial officer, which Tunoi had already ceased to be, and there was no legal provision under which further investigations would be conducted.
The team further affirmed that as at now, it would not recommend any disciplinary action against Tunoi since it had already been deprived of a subject.
The judge's defence team, which adamantly maintained that Mr Tunoi had not received an official retirement letter, sought for a chance to comment on the decision.
Early this year, a journalist identified as Geoffrey Kiplagat filed an affidavit claiming that Tunoi had received a Sh200 Million bribe from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to influence the outcome of an election petition filed by his then rival, now Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu.
The Judicial Service Commission convened a special committee which conducted a preliminary inquiry into the matter and recommended that President Uhuru Kenyatta constitutes a team to further look into the matter.
In February, the President effectively suspended the then Supreme court judge and appointed an investigation team which has been listening to evidence from various parties mentioned in the affidavit.
