Suspended Kangema magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi denies receiving Ksh150,000 bribe
By Zipporah Ngwatu, August 24, 2026The suspended Senior Principal Magistrate of the Kangema Law Courts, Martin Kinyua Mutegi, has denied receiving a bribe of Ksh150,000.
Kinyua has been charged with receiving a bribe contrary to section 6(1)(a) as read with section 18(1) and (2) of the Anti-Bribery Act No. 47 OF 2016.
According to the charge sheet, Kinyua, who is the second accused person in the matter, received the said money to enable him to pass a favourable sentence against Peter Njihia Njuguna, who was facing criminal charges and had been convicted in the Kangema Chief Magistrate Court.
The prosecution argues that the judicial officer received Ksh150,000 on July 21, 2026, from Njihia through probation officer Kandara Julius Irungu for him to pass a favourable sentence against Njihia.
“On July 21, 2026, at Kangema township within Murang’a County, being the Senior Principal Magistrate attached at Kangema Law Courts, you received a financial advantage of Ksh150,000 from Peter Njihia Njuguna through the Principal Probation Officer Julius Irungu Njogu in consequence that you would pass a favourable sentence against the said Njihia,” part of the charge sheet reads.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-corruption Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa on Monday, August 24, 2026, Kinyua denied the charges, and a plea of not guilty was entered.
“A plea of not guilty by the accused two (Suspended Magistrate Kinyua) is entered in counts three and four,” Magistrate Barasa stated.
The prosecution has told the court that they are not opposed to the accused being released on bail and bond terms.
The defence team urged the court to grant the accused lenient bail and bond terms.
Magistrate Barasa has released the suspended magistrate on a bond of Ksh800,000 with an alternative of paying a Ksh400,000 cash bail.
The court has warned him not to interfere directly or indirectly with prosecution witnesses during the pendency of his trial.
The matter will be mentioned on September 7, 2026, for further directions.