Court bars EACC, DPP from arresting Thika chief magistrate
The magistrate challenged the anti-corruption commission for referring to her as ‘Bonareri N’ and not Stella Atambo.
The High Court has issued interim conservatory orders blocking the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from arresting and prosecuting Thika Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo over allegations of bribery and corruption allegations.
Justice Chacha Mwita stated that the orders shall remain in place until June 10, 2025 when the parties involved in the case shall appear before the court for directions.
“Interim orders are merited at this stage,” Mwita stated.
Through her lawyers, Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, Atambo moved to the high court seeking orders to stop the anti-graft authority and the DPP from arresting and prosecuting her.
The magistrate is contesting the manner in which the anti-corruption commission got search warrants to raid her home after it refer to her in its application to Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court as ‘Bonareri N’ and not Stella Atambo.
Last week, EACC indicated it had launched investigations into allegations of the chief magistrate receiving bribes.
The Anti-Corruption Commission stated the probe was launched following claims that the magistrate was demanding and accepting bribes from individuals accused in Criminal cases before her.
“After numerous claims and complaints that Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo is demanding and receiving bribes from people accused of criminal matters before her, EACC confirms launch of the probe over the same,” The corruption Watchdog said in a statement.
The commission highlighted an instance where the chief magistrate allegedly received a bribe through her clerk, Patrick Njeri Muriithi.
They further indicated to had raided the residences of both the magistrate and the court clerk and recovered Ksh 2 million in cash suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
However, the matter turned controversial after Milimani Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki protested that he had been duped into giving the warrants to search her home by the EACC after it failed to make full disclosure regarding whom it was targeting.
Ondieki said he could have recused himself since Atambo and her husband, Evans Achoki, have been and remain not only his close personal friends spanning a period of approximately 17 years – dating back to 2008 – but also family friends with close ties with his nuclear family.
