Judge in Sh200 Million Scandal Reveals Why He is Targeted

Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi has come out to blame succession wrangles in the Judiciary as the major cause of bribery allegations against him.

Tunoi, who is expected to appear before the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) on Wednesday, claimed that old judges in the judiciary were being discriminated against by the new ones who scaled up ranks under the new constitution.

"There is a big disconnect between the two groups of servants in the Judiciary. To term old judges and magistrates as corrupt is a fallacy. There has been no attempt by the Chief Justice to get the collaboration of serving judges," Justice Tunoi was quoted by the standard.

The 72-year-old alleged that there were individuals plotting his exit from the Supreme court, so they could ascend to become judges in the highest court on the land.

Justice Tunoi further claimed that a group of judges and lawyers even wished him dead since he refused to retire at the age of 70.

"One even told me if I win this case challenging my retirement I will regret. I am really shocked by these allegations that I received Sh200 million as judge to influence the election petition of Ferdinand Waititu against Governor Evans Kidero. My family is in tears and taken aback by these wild claims," he said.

The allegations that the Supreme Court Judge received Sh200 Million from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to influence the results of a petition by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu challenging his election, were sparked by one Geoffrey Kiplagat.

According to Mr Kiplagat, the scandal began in May 2014 when he was requested by a businessman through a phone call, if he could link him up with Justice Tunoi to help in the case against Dr Kidero, Nation reports.

He claimed that after playing his part in a well organised communication network, the money was delivered to the judge at a petrol station in Nairobi.

Following the claims, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga announced that a special JSC sitting would be convened to look into the issue touching on the integrity of the Supreme Court,

“In view of the seniority of the judge, the gravity of the allegations, and the public interest this matter has generated, I will be presenting this matter to a special sitting of JSC that I have summoned for Wednesday (today), 27th January," read a statement from Dr Mutunga. 

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