Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi to know fate on Friday

Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi will on Friday know his fate when the Select Committee investigating bribery allegations against him forwards its recommendation to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The committee, which had been given until Wednesday to submit its findings, sought an extension to thorough cross check evidences and statements issued and make just deliberations.

“The committee was given today, February 3rd, as the deadline to submit its report and the findings to JSC. The committee has, however, not been able to complete the report and has sought and obtained extension of time from JSC to complete this work by February 5th before 5PM.”

“The committee will adhere to a fair and just process as we consider this matter. We thank all the persons who appeared before us and Kenyans for being patient as we await a decision regarding this matter,” said the committee chair Prof. Margaret Kobia.

Kobia, who is the Public Service Commission chair, said the complainant Geoffrey Kiplagat, and the Judge have appeared before the committee, along with seven other “persons of interest” noting that the committee is crosschecking the statements given to ensure their validity.

The committee will meet JSC on Friday at 2:30PM to hand over their recommendations into the claims.

Judge Tunoi has stated that the bribery allegations leveled against him are motivated by succession politics within the Judiciary.

In an exclusive interview with Citizen TV last week, Justice Tunoi said his accuser, Geoffrey Kiplagat, is being used by unnamed individuals who are keen on taking up his position as Judge of the Supreme Court.

“The bribery allegations levelled against me are motivated by the succession in the leadership of the Judiciary, pending the retirement of Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga and his deputy Kalpana Rawal,” he said.

Justice Tunoi also attributed the claims to efforts by people opposed to his push for an extension in his retirement age.

He said he had read both the old and the new constitution passed in 2010 and he is right to demand that he retires at the age of 74.

Tunoi’s woes began after Kiplagat, a former KASS FM presenter, alleged that he had received Ksh 202 million from Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero to rule in his favour in an election petition filed by the now Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu in an interview aired on NTV.

Waititu had moved to court to challenge IEBC’s decision to announce Kidero as Nairobi Governor after garnering 692,483 votes against Waititu’s 617,839.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed Kidero’s election in August 2014 ending a protracted court battle that had lasted for over a year.

Following the latest development, Waititu now wants the decision confirming Kidero as Nairobi Governor quashed and investigations launched into the bribery claims against Tunoi.

Kidero has however denied the bribery claims saying he has never met Kiplagat not Justice Tunoi.

By @benjaminwafula