Julius Irungu in court/LEAH MUKANGAIA Principal Probation Officer attached to Kangema Law Courts has denied charges of soliciting and receiving a bribe in connection with a case in which he is accused of acting on behalf of a magistrate.
Julius Irungu Njogu appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of receiving a bribe contrary to Section 6(1)(a), as read together with Section 18(1) and (2) of the Anti-Bribery Act, No. 47 of 2016.
The charges relate to allegations that Njogu sought and received money from a man who had been convicted in a criminal case at the Kangema Chief Magistrate’s Court.
“On the 16th day of July, 2026 at Kangema law courts within Muranga County, being the Principal Probation Officer- Kangema, you requested for a financial advantage of Sh170,000 from Peter Njihia Njuguna on behalf of Hon. Martin Kinyua Mutegi, in consequence that Hon. Martin Kinyua Mutegi would pass a favorable sentence in Kangema Chief Magistrate's Court, Criminal case number E645 of 2024 in which Peter Njihia had been charged and convicted,” the charge sheet reads.
The prosecution alleges that the money was sought in exchange for magistrate Mutegi passing a favourable sentence against Njihia, who had been charged and convicted in Criminal Case No. E645 of 2024.
Njogu, however, denied the allegations when he appeared before the anti-corruption court.
The prosecution asked the court to issue summonses requiring the magistrate to appear before the court and take a plea in relation to the matter.
Following his plea, Njogu asked the court to grant him lenient cash bail, arguing that he was a civil servant and therefore not a flight risk.
The probation officer further urged the court to consider his family circumstances, telling the court that he is a father and the sole breadwinner of his household.
He was subsequently released on a Sh400,000 cash bail or Sh800,000 bond.
The case stems from investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which forwarded its inquiry file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for consideration.
The DPP subsequently approved charges against Njogu and Mutegi after determining that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the two.
"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," the ODPP said.
"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions remains committed to upholding the rule of law, safeguarding public interest, promoting fair administration of justice, and ensuring accountability where criminal conduct is established through investigations," the statement said.
