Tunoi: Accuser called me pretending to be 'Total Man'

Описание: Suspended Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi, through lawyer Fred Ngatia, on Tuesday told the tribunal investigating allegations that he took a Sh200 million bribe that his accuser, Geoffrey Kiplagat, indeed called him but, under the assumed persona of Nicholas Biwott – popularly known as the ‘Total Man.’

Ngatia in cross-examining Kiplagat claimed that the, “inappropriate contact” that had been established between Tunoi and Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s associates (from whom he’s alleged to have received the bribe) was in fact Kiplagat calling Tunoi “pretending” to be Biwott – an influential member of former President Daniel arap Moi’s government.

The bribery claim by Kiplagat led to Tunoi’s suspension by President Uhuru Kenyatta on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission.

“You were lying that you were Nicholas Biwott and as soon as you know you are not Nicholas Biwott (sic) he’ll put you off,” Ngatia accused.

Kiplagat took exception to the accusation accusing Tunoi of being the liar in denying any knowledge of him.

“That one is a disgusting observation,” he said. “You see this whole set of people in what you have painted as episodes, these are people we interacted and these are people who said they don’t know me all of them. So I thought the judge would tell even you alone the truth as his lead counsel. There are some people you tell the truth in some matters so that they can help you.”

Kiplagat also denied being a “close contact” of Kidero saying contrary to Ngatia’s assertions, his running for elective office in 2013 on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket did not automatically translate to his receiving money from him for his campaigns.


“You don’t expect me to contest on Inkatha Freedom Party of South Africa… or CCM… or is it (ODM) an illegal party?” he posed to laughter.

Through his cross-examination Ngatia also sought to prove Tunoi’s assertion that Kiplagat’s “fiction, thriller that should never have seen the light of day,” was the consequence of his refusal to retire at 70 years of age as demanded by the Judicial Service Commission.