Magistrate, probation officer arrested for allegedly demanding bribe to influence criminal case outcome
EACC said preliminary investigations established that the probation officer approached the complainant, claiming to act on behalf of the magistrate, and.
The suspects are currently being held at Nyeri Central Police Station. (Photo: File)
A Senior Principal Magistrate at Kangema Law Courts and a Principal Probation Officer have been arrested for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe from a litigant in exchange for influencing the outcome of a criminal case.
In a statement, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said the two suspects, Martin Kinyua Mutegi, a Senior Principal Magistrate and Julius Irungu Njogu, a Principal Probation Officer, were arrested on July 21, 2026, at a restaurant within Kangema Township following an operation by the Commission.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by a businessman from Murang’a County, who reported that he had been convicted on July 2, 2026, in a criminal case involving obtaining money by false pretences and was scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2026.
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EACC said preliminary investigations established that the probation officer approached the complainant, claiming to act on behalf of the magistrate, and demanded Sh170,000.
The Commission said the complainant was assured that the money would help secure a non-custodial sentence through a favourable probation recommendation instead of a custodial sentence.
“EACC mounted an operation that culminated in the arrest of the two suspects while receiving Sh150,000 from the complainant,” the commission said.
The suspects are currently being held at Nyeri Central Police Station and will be processed on Wednesday morning at the EACC Central Regional Office.
EACC said it remains committed to fighting bribery at service delivery points and improving the quality of public services for all citizens.