A principal probation officer attached to Kangema Law Courts has been arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe in connection with a criminal case on behalf of a magistrate.
However, the magistrate, Martin Mutegi, did not attend court for the plea hearing.
Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa summoned Mutegi to appear in court on July 30, 2026, for plea taking.
Julius Irungu Njogu appeared before the court and pleaded not guilty to two counts of receiving a bribe contrary to Section 6(1)(a), as read together with Sections 18(1) and (2) of the Anti-Bribery Act, No. 47 of 2016.
Probation officer Julius Irungu Njogu has been charged at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court with receiving a bribe.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
According to the charge sheet, on July 16, 2026, at Kangema Law Courts in Murang'a County, Njogu, while serving as the principal probation officer at Kangema, allegedly requested a financial advantage of KSh170,000 from Peter Njihia Njuguna on behalf of Kangema Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi.
The prosecution alleges that the money was intended to influence the magistrate to impose a favourable sentence in Kangema Chief Magistrate's Court Criminal Case No. E645 of 2024.
In the second count, the prosecution alleges that on July 21, 2026, at Kangema Township in Murang'a County, Njogu received Sh150,000 from Peter Njihia Njuguna, allegedly on behalf of Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi, in exchange for a favourable sentence in the same criminal case, in which Peter Njihia had already been charged and convicted.
Led by Mr Abdisaalam Bore, the prosecution applied for a summons to be issued for Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi to appear before the court for plea taking in relation to the matter.
The accused pleaded for lenient cash bail, saying he is a civil servant and not a flight risk. He also told the court that he is a father of three and the firstborn is in Grade 9 and the sole bread winner of the family.
Magistrate Harrison Barasa granted the accused on bond of Sh800,000 with an alternative cash bail of Sh400,000.
Case to be mentioned on July 30, 2026.
Mutegi summoned to attend court on July 30, 2026 to take plea.
