Tunoi tribunal resumes hearings

The tribunal investigating bribery claims against suspended Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi resumed hearing Tuesday morning with the judge’s counsel continuing to cross-examine Geoffrey Kiplagat, the journalist who filed an affidavit claiming that Tunoi received a bribe from .

In the first hearing, Kiplagat, defended his statement during cross-examination by Tunoi’s lawyer Fred Ngatia.

He was hard pressed to explain how money changed hands in public, without any other person witnessing, to back his affidavit claims that he saw the judge receive a briefcase, stashed with 2 million US dollars.

Tunoi is being probed over allegations he received a 200 million shilling bribe from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, to rule in his favour in an election petition filed by now Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu.

Abut two weeks ago, Tunoi’s defense team led by Counsel Ngatia sought to discredit Kiplagat’s earlier testimony and affidavit.

Tunoi’s defense team urged Kiplagat to come clean on allegations that Justice Tunoi purchased two parcels of land and two tractors in Uasin Gishu County after receiving the alleged bribe from Kidero.

Tunoi says, should Kiplagat and his accomplices in the saga prove he owns the two parcels of land; he would be ready to resign from the bench and hand over the said land.

Kiplagat denied an earlier claim that he told judiciary officials he wanted Ksh 30 Million to finish the case.

He further denied that he called the embattled judge, Justice Tunoi, claiming to be former powerful politician Nicholas Biwott.

The former journalist insisted that he acted as a go-between for the two parties and that he was present when Tunoi received the bribe at Petro fuel station on Waiyaki Way.

The suspended Supreme Court judge last week opted for public hearings, quashing an earlier request he had made to have his hearing conducted in private.

In late February, President Uhuru Kenyatta suspended Tunoi and formed a six-member tribunal to further probe him.