Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi charged over alleged Sh150,000 bribe to influence businessman’s sentence
Mutegi appeared before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Harrison Baraza on Monday August 24,2026 and pleaded not guilty to two corruption charges of requesting Sh170,000 and receiving Sh150,000 to influence the outcome of a criminal sentence
The court subsequently released him on a Sh400,000 cash bail or an alternative bond of Sh800,000 pending the hearing and determination of the case.
As part of the bail terms, Barasa ordered Mutegi not to interfere directly or indirectly with any prosecution witness during the pendency of the trial.
Mutegi’s plea was taken after Chief Magistrate Barasa rejected an attempt by his lawyers to stop or defer the proceedings.
The defence had sought to have the plea-taking delayed pending the determination of a separate application before the High Court.
However, Barasa found that there was no court order before him barring the Anti-Corruption Court from proceeding with the case.
The court consequently directed Mutegi to take plea and respond to the charges against him.
According to the charge sheet, Mutegi allegedly requested Sh170,000 between July 16 and July 21, 2026, through Kangema Law Courts Principal Probation Officer Julius Irungu Njogu.
The money was allegedly sought in exchange for influencing the sentence of a convicted businessman who was due to appear before Mutegi for sentencing in Kangema Chief Magistrate’s Criminal Case No. E645 of 2024.
The prosecution alleges that the accused magistrate sought the money to facilitate a favourable outcome that would enable the convicted businessman to avoid a custodial sentence.
The second count alleges that Mutegi received Sh150,000 on July 21, 2026, through Njogu, as part of the alleged bribery arrangement.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between July 16 and July 21, 2026, in Kangema Township, Murang’a County.
The case followed a complaint lodged by the businessman, who told investigators that Njogu had approached him claiming to be acting on behalf of Mutegi.
Njogu allegedly demanded Sh170,000 and indicated that the money would help secure a favourable probation report and sentence.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) subsequently mounted a sting operation to investigate the allegations.
Mutegi and Njogu were arrested on July 21, 2026, at a restaurant in Kangema Township after allegedly receiving Sh150,000 from the complainant.
The arrest prompted disciplinary action against Mutegi within the Judiciary.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, acting in her capacity as chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission, suspended Mutegi on July 22 and commenced disciplinary proceedings against him under the Judicial Service Act.
Mutegi had earlier failed to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court to take plea.
His lawyers informed the court that he was unwell and had been admitted to hospital, prompting the court to defer the plea-taking and order him to appear at a later date.
The court later issued summons requiring him to attend and answer to the charges.
His co-accused, Julius Irungu Njogu, the Kangema Law Courts Principal Probation Officer, had already been arraigned in connection with the alleged scheme.
Njogu pleaded not guilty to two counts of receiving a bribe and was released on a Sh400,000 cash bail or an alternative Sh800,000 bond.
The matter will return to court for mention on September 7, 2026 for pre-trial directions
