Kenya’s deputy chief justice arrested over alleged corruption
Kenya deputy chief justice was on Tuesday evening arrested at the Supreme court and taken to the DCI headquarters for questioning over alleged graft.
Shortly after her arrest, Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji called an urgent press conference on the matter.
According to the briefing, Mwilu will be charged with abuse of office, receiving bribe and failing to pay taxes.
The evidence in our possession reveals that: Lady Justice Mwilu abused her office for personal gain. Accepted a gift in the form of money in circumstances which undermined public confidence in the integrity of her office, conducted herself in disregard of the law. In view of the above, I have concluded that the evidence is sufficient with a reasonable prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest that criminal proceedings should be preferred,” said DPP Haji
Indicating the gravity of the case, the DPP further added that it was about time Kenyans got justice seeing as the “country is being torn apart by people placed in positions of trust but who in turn abuse this trust.” He also insisted that his office was independent and the decision to arrest the Deputy Chief Justice was not pegged on any political inclinations.
Chief Justice David Maraga, who heads the institution, has previously indicated that there will be no sacred cows, even within the corridors of justice, in the fight against corruption.
“I have no room for corrupt judicial officers,” he warned in June this year.
“Know that you are alone if you are corrupt and expect no sympathy, mercy or protection from my office.”
After questioning, the Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu was swiftly arraigned and released on Sh5 million bond and ordered to appear in court tomorrow at 9 a.m together with her co-accused Stanley Muluvi.
The government launched a new anti-graft push this year led by Haji, a former deputy head of national intelligence, who has brought criminal charges against dozens of civil servants and business people.