Kenyans watching MPs grill nation's most powerful lawyers live on TV
NAIROBI (TrustLaw) – In live television broadcasts, the man nominated to become Kenya’s new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Keriako Tobiko, has been accused of demanding a 5 million shilling (more than $57,000) bribe and manipulating corruption cases.
Kenyans are enjoying the spectacle of MPs grilling the nation’s most powerful lawyers in public hearings as part of sweeping reforms to overhaul its notoriously corrupt judiciary.
Former civil servant, Sammy Kirui, told the parliamentary committee that he got SMS messages from three intermediaries telling him that “Tobiko wants the money to sort the attorney general, the judge and himself,” according to Thursday’s The Star newspaper.
Kirui is facing charges in connection with the fraudulent acquisition of cemetery land. He claimed that Tobiko increased the number of counts against him by one to three when he failed to pay the bribe.
It is also alleged Tobiko unlawfully aborted the prosecution of Livingstone Ole Ntutu, his former client, for allegedly grabbing 4,000 acres of land in the world-famous Maasai Mara game reserve.
Tobiko is currently the chief public prosecutor. The position of DPP is a new one, created by Kenya’s 2010 constitution.
The third allegation is that Tobiko deliberately botched the state’s prosecution of MP William Ruto over charges of defrauding the government of $1.1 million for the sale of forest land. Tobiko failed to produce key witnesses in the case, including the complainant.
Ruto is one of six suspects named by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as masterminding the bloodshed that followed Kenya’s disputed 2007 election.
The process of choosing a new DPP, chief justice and deputy chief justice has been highly contentious. President Kibaki had to withdraw his original nominations following a public outcry that they had been handpicked.
The other two candidates are liberal reformers who have been taken to task by the church for their pro-gay views.
Parliamentarians will announce their verdict on the three candidates on Tuesday.
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