The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved the prosecution of a Kangema Senior Principal Magistrate and a Senior Probation Officer over alleged bribery after determining that investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) established enough evidence to support criminal charges.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DPP said the decision followed an independent review of an inquiry file submitted by the anti-graft agency detailing allegations against Senior Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi of Kangema Law Courts and Senior Probation Officer Julius Irungu Njogu.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) received an inquiry file submitted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detailing bribery allegations against Hon. Martin Kinyua Mutegi, a Senior Principal Magistrate at Kangema Law Courts, and Julius Irungu Njogu, a Senior Probation Officer based at Kangema,” the statement read.
The prosecution authority said its assessment found sufficient evidence to prosecute the two public officers under the Anti-Bribery Act.
“Upon an independent and thorough review of the inquiry file, the DPP has established that there is sufficient evidence to charge the two suspects with the offence of Receiving a Bribe, contrary to Section 6(1) as read with Section 18(1) of the Anti-Bribery Act,” the statement added.
The DPP has since directed that the two suspects be presented before a court with jurisdiction over the case to face the charges.
“Consequently, the DPP has directed that the two suspects be charged immediately before a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said.
The approval to prosecute comes only days after EACC detectives arrested the magistrate and the probation officer during an operation at a restaurant in Kangema Township, Murang’a County.
According to the commission, the two were allegedly arrested while receiving Sh150,000 from a complainant after reportedly demanding Sh170,000 to influence the outcome of a criminal case by preparing a favourable probation report and securing a non-custodial sentence.
The complainant, a businessman from Murang’a County, reported the matter to the EACC after he was convicted on July 2 and was awaiting sentencing.
Following the arrests, Chief Justice Martha Koome relieved Martin Mutegi of his judicial duties pending investigations into allegations that he solicited a bribe.
In a statement issued on July 22, 2026, Koome said the Judiciary maintains a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and unethical conduct, adding that disciplinary proceedings had already begun against the judicial officer.
“While every person against whom allegations are made remains entitled to due process, the Judiciary will not shield or condone criminal or unethical conduct by any person serving within its ranks,” Koome said.
“Pending the conclusion of those processes, the judicial officer will be relieved of judicial duties in accordance with the law and established procedures, without prejudice to the ongoing criminal investigations by the relevant constitutional agencies,” she added.