Another witness contradicts Kiplagats affidavit in Tunoi tribunal

Another witness contradicts Kiplagats affidavit in Tunoi tribunal

John Osogo, the Personal Assistant to Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero, was Wednesday at pains to explain an affidavit by former journalist Geoffrey Kiplagat implicating him in a 200-million-shilling bribery scam.

Osogo was testifying before the tribunal investigating the conduct of suspended Supreme Court Judge Phillip Tunoi accused of receiving the bribe from Kidero to influence the ruling in a petition filed by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu.

He was, however, unable to reconcile events mentioned in the affidavit with his testimony.

Osogo’s name, appeared extensively in Kiplagat’s affidavit after he was implicated in the scam pitting his boss, Kidero and Justice Tunoi.

The circumstances behind his knowledge of Kiplagat, alias Lelmet, were different, he said.

“I was not involved in the petition,” said Osogo.

Kiplagat’s statement claimed that Osogo had approached him to contact Justice Tunoi for a favourable outcome in the Kidero petition.

Osogo disputed this saying that text messages Kiplagat quoted in his affidavit were entirely in a different context.

“Lelmet had brought in a different angle and wanted me to see a piece of land he wanted me to buy and said he would introduce me to see a certain mzee. The man was looking for employment, he was pestering me, he had become a thorn in my side. He used to call all the time. I would give him one, two, three thousand bob for lunch, he was introduced to me as a well connected journalist. I wouldn’t want to get on his wrong side,” said Osogo.

“He mentioned the issue of land and introduced a certain Fridah Rop, who was the daughter of a certain man who owned the land. He was looking for money; he said he would get a certain commission. The mzee was old and could not travel to Nairobi. Fridah was to transact on his behalf. I spoke to Fridah on phone but I never met her. She asked if I was interested in the land.”

Kiplagat alleges that on 29th August, the Supreme Court bench hearing the Kidero Vs Waititu case, ruled in favour of Kidero’s appeal, he was to be given a job in return.

Osogo’s witness testimony was full of contradictions on when he first saw or heard about the affidavit, whether or not he discussed the Kidero petition with Kiplagat.

Tags:

kenya Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero Philip Tunoi Geoffery Kiplagat

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