A Senior Principal Magistrate and a Principal Probation Officer have been arrested after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) uncovered an alleged scheme in which a convicted businessman was reportedly asked to pay a bribe to avoid a jail term.
The two judicial officers were arrested during a sting operation after investigators allegedly caught them receiving part of the money they had demanded in exchange for securing a non-custodial sentence.
The commission identified the suspects as Senior Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi of Kangema Law Courts and Principal Probation Officer Julius Irungu Njogu. They were arrested on July 21 at a restaurant in Kangema Township, Murang'a County.
According to EACC, the operation was launched after a businessman from Murang'a lodged a complaint with the commission. The businessman 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.
The complainant told investigators that he had been asked to pay a bribe to secure a non-custodial sentence instead of being imprisoned.
Investigations by the commission established that the probation officer allegedly approached the businessman while claiming to be acting on behalf of the magistrate. EACC said he demanded Sh170,000, assuring the complainant that the payment would influence the sentencing process through a favourable probation report.
"Preliminary investigations established that the probation officer approached the complainant, claiming to act on behalf of the magistrate, and demanded Kes170,000, assuring him that the money would secure a non-custodial sentence through a favourable probation recommendation rather than a custodial sentence," EACC said in a statement.
After receiving the complaint, the commission organised a sting operation that led to the arrest of the two suspects while they were allegedly receiving Sh150,000 from the complainant.
"EACC mounted an operation that culminated in the arrest of the two suspects while receiving Kes150,000 from the complainant," the commission said.
The two suspects are being held at Nyeri Central Police Station and are expected to be processed at the EACC Central Regional Office before further legal action is taken.
The arrests are the latest in the commission's ongoing efforts to tackle alleged bribery within Kenya's justice system, particularly claims involving judicial officers accused of seeking payments to influence court decisions.
EACC said it remains committed to fighting corruption in public service and holding public officers accountable for abuse of office.
"EACC reiterates its commitment to tackling bribery at service delivery points and enhancing the quality of public services for all citizens," the commission said.
Investigations into the matter are continuing, and the commission said the suspects could face charges under Kenya's anti-corruption laws if found culpable.