Officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday arrested former High Court judge Joseph Mutava and city lawyer Kimani Wachira over an alleged bribery scheme linked to a commercial dispute currently before the High Court of Kenya.
According to the anti-graft agency, the two were arrested alongside two other suspects following investigations into claims that they demanded a bribe of USD 80,000 (approximately KSh 10.4 million).
EACC investigators say the money was allegedly solicited in exchange for influencing the outcome of a commercial case involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, which is currently pending before the High Court.
Reports indicate that Tuju alerted investigators after the suspects allegedly approached him demanding the money, claiming they could manipulate the outcome of the case in his favour.
The property dispute case involving Tuju has been ongoing in court, and the latest developments have now dragged senior legal figures into a major corruption probe.
Following the complaint, EACC detectives launched investigations that culminated in the arrest of Mutava, Wachira, and the other suspects.
The suspects are expected to be processed and arraigned in court as investigations into the alleged bribery scheme continue.
The former judge was removed from office in 2016 after a tribunal found him guilty of gross misconduct and corruption, findings that were later upheld by the Supreme Court.
The tribunal, chaired by David Maraga, concluded that Mutava had improperly handled several cases, including a high-profile dispute involving businessman Kamlesh Pattni.
