Editor's Review

This comes after EACC announced that it had launched investigations into the Magistrate over allegations of bribery.

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.

While issuing the interim orders on Monday, March 17, Justice Chacha Mwita stated that they would remain in effect until June 10, 2025, when the parties involved in the case are set to appear before the court for further directions.

“I am therefore satisfied that interim orders are merited at this stage," Justice Mwita stated.

This comes after Atambo through her lawyers Danstan Omari and Shaddrack Wambui moved to the High Court to seek orders blocking EACC and the DPP from arresting and prosecuting her.

She challenged the search warrant obtained by EACC which referred to her as 'Bonareri N' and not Stellah Atambo.

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File image of EACC headquarters in Nairobi. 

On March 13, EACC announced that it had launched investigations into the Thika Chief Magistrate.

In a statement, the commission said Atambo is accused of demanding and accepting bribes from accused individuals in criminal cases before her court.

"EACC wishes to confirm that it is conducting investigations against Hon. Stellah Atambo, Chief Magistrate, Thika Law Courts following numerous complaints alleging that she demands and receives bribes from accused persons in criminal matters before her," the statement read in part.

According to EACC, the magistrate allegedly received a bribe through Patrick Njeri Muriithi, a clerk in her court.

Further EACC said its officers raided the residences of both the magistrate and the court clerk and recovered Ksh2 million in cash suspected to be proceeds of corruption.

"A total of Kes2,070,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of corruption was recovered inside a laptop bag at the residence of Hon. Atambo among various documents relevant to the investigations," EACC disclosed.