NIS disowns report allegedly showing Tunoi received bribe from Kidero

The probe into bribery allegations facing Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi took a new twist Tuesday after the National Intelligence Service (NIS) disowned a letter presented to the tribunal by the Judiciary Ombudsman Kennedy Bidali.

According to the letter by Bidali, allegedly penned by the NIS, the outcome of the election petition filed by Kabete Member of Parliament Ferdinand Waititu – then a Nairobi Gubernatorial seat contestant – against Dr. Evans Kidero, was in line with the Ksh 200 million bribe offered.

The report was used by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to recommend the formation of the Tribunal to probe Tunoi.

Bidali, who is a person of interest being cross-examined by the defence team of Tunoi led by Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, argued that the details of the NIS report were in tandem with the election petition results in which the Supreme Court upheld Kidero’s victory.

After Bidali’s tabling of the letter, the Tribunal found it crucial to interrogate it in order to authenticate its origin and content.

The NIS, through its director, however, said that the report was a classified document and should not be accepted as evidence in the probe.

The Tribunal has also cast doubt on the five-page report as it is not signed. It includes details of phone calls and text messages allegedly between Tunoi and his accuser, former Kass FM journalist Geoffrey Kiplagat.

Tunoi is accused of receiving Ksh 200 million bribe from Kidero to influence the outcome of the poll petition filed by Waititu.