Kenya: Magistrate charged with allegedly taking bribes to influence a court ruling | CUAC

Civil Union – Follow-ups Martin Kinyua Muthigí, the chief magistrate at Kangema Law Courts in Kenya, has been charged with corruption in connection with an alleged bribery scheme aimed at influencing the sentence handed down to a convicted businessman. Muthigí appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi on August 24, 2026, where he denied the charges, which include allegedly soliciting a bribe of 170,000 Kenyan shillings and receiving 150,000 shillings. The case stems from an operation conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in July, which resulted in the arrest of Muthigí and court probation officer Julius Irungu Njogu after the alleged payment was handed over as part of the operation. According to the prosecution, the money was allegedly requested in exchange for assistance in securing a lenient, non-custodial sentence for a businessman awaiting sentencing in a criminal case. The Judiciary had suspended Muthigí from duty and initiated disciplinary proceedings against him. The court later released him on a cash bail of 400,000 Kenyan shillings or a bond of 800,000 shillings, while barring him from interfering with prosecution witnesses. The next hearing is scheduled for September 7, 2026. Sources: Nation Africa and The Standard