Kung’u Muigai stopped from publishing bribery claims against Justice Lenaola

Kung’u Muigai stopped from publishing bribery claims against Justice Lenaola

A court barred businessman Kung’u Muigai from publishing or circulating statements alleging that Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola received a bribe to influence a court decision.

This followed an application dated September 30, 2025, in which Justice Lenaola sued Muigai for defamation over claims made on social media and other digital platforms.

Justice Lenaola told the court that Muigai falsely accused him of receiving Sh1 million to deliver an adverse judgment in a case involving the businessman and a company associated with him.

The judge argued that the statements, made during interviews and online postings, were widely shared across platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter).

Justice Lenaola filed an affidavit attaching videos on a flash disk, photographs, screenshots, and print media extracts. The electronic evidence was accompanied by a certificate under Section 106B of the Evidence Act.

The judge argued that the statements are defamatory, malicious, and calculated to portray him as a corrupt judicial officer who accepts bribes, thereby lowering his standing in society and undermining public confidence in the judiciary.

He further stated that the allegations relate to a case he presided over many years ago while serving as a High Court judge, a case in which Muigai and his company lost and that the claims have caused serious harm to his professional reputation and judicial career.

In his defence, Muigai admitted making the statements and maintains that they are true, repeating the allegations in his court pleadings.

The defamation suit is pending hearing and determination.