This is a guest post by Kennedy Mugera.
To paraphrase Aristotle, “Corruption abhors a vacuum.” And going by the recent developments in government, It would seem it certainly does. A plague, fresh from devouring one arm of the government with the Waiguru scandal, has now found green grass in the Judiciaries back yard, as Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi continues to duck corruption allegations that emerged after former Kass FM journalist Geoffrey Kiplagat filed an affidavit accusing Mr. Tunoi of receiving a sh.200 million bribe from Nairobi governor Evans Kidero.
The alleged bribe, which goes back to a petition Judge Tunoi presided over, was filed by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu challenging the results of the Nairobi Gubernatorial race, following the 2013 elections.
Tunoi, who maintains his innocence has refused to resign even as the Judicial Service Commission has confirmed asking President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a tribunal to investigate the claims against the judge.
To complicate matters further for the troubled judge, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has also confirmed opening an investigation on its own front to investigate the bribery claims laid against him.
Governor Kidero has also dismissed the allegations, denying any wrong doing while also questioning the timing of Mr. Kiplagat’s allegations ahead of the 2017 elections.
A dark cloud also seems to be finding its way onto chief Justice Willy Mutunga’s reputation as well, after it emerged that the affidavit was written on November 22, 2014 and only acknowledged by the Chief Justice after the Media ran the story.
As the unending Corruption circus continues to run circles around the government, Kenyans shift their focus to the EACC and Uhuru Kenyatta’s yet to be realized tribunal, hoping against hope that there is yet a fiber of the three arms of government that can be salvaged from the mouth of this all too familiar abyss.
Cover Photo Credit: kenyapoa.wordpress.com