A Senior Principal Magistrate has been charged with allegedly requesting Sh170,000 and receiving Sh150,000 to influence the sentence of a man convicted in a criminal case.
Martin Kinyua Mutegi, a magistrate attached to Kangema Law Courts, is accused of seeking the money through Principal Probation Officer Julius Irungu Njogu in exchange for ensuring that Peter Njihia Njuguna received a favourable sentence.
Mutegi was arraigned before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa, where he denied two counts of receiving a bribe contrary to the Anti-Bribery Act.
According to the chargesheet, Mutegi allegedly requested a financial advantage of Sh170,000 from Njihia through Njogu between July 16 and July 21, 2026, at Kangema Township in Murang’a County.
The money was allegedly sought in exchange for a favourable sentence for Njihia, who had been convicted in Kangema Chief Magistrate’s Court Criminal Case No. E645 of 2024.
Mutegi was also accused of receiving Sh150,000 from Njihia through Njogu on July 21, 2026, allegedly in exchange for passing a favourable sentence.
Through his lawyer, Kamure Nchoki, Mutegi urged the court to admit him to reasonable cash bail, saying he was a cooperative judicial officer who was willing to comply with all directions issued by the court and would attend whenever required.
Chief Magistrate Barasa released Mutegi on a bond of Sh800,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh400,000.
The case will be mentioned on September 7, 2026.
Mutegi’s arraignment comes weeks after Njogu was charged in connection with the same alleged bribery scheme.
The two were initially arrested following investigations into allegations that they solicited and received Sh150,000 from the convicted man in exchange for influencing the outcome of his criminal case.
Njogu was subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption and receiving a bribe.
According to investigations, the alleged demand was made while Njihia was awaiting sentencing following his conviction in the Kangema court.
The prosecution alleges that Njogu acted as the intermediary through whom the Sh170,000 was requested and the Sh150,000 subsequently received.
