NAIROBI Governor Evans Kidero has blamed political mercenaries for the tribulations facing Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi and himself.
“How can one ask for a fee of Sh25 million, which I could not afford, then go ahead to allege that I bribed a judge with Sh200 million?” he said.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdulahi had initially asked Kidero to pay him Sh25 million as deposit for him to take over his election petition matter at the Supreme Court. Kidero rejected the demand and instead picked Tom Ojienda as his lawyer.
Kidero is accused of bribing Judge Philip Tunoi with Sh200 million in the election petition filed by Ferdinand Waititu challenging his election as Nairobi governor.
Waititu is today expected to move to the Supreme Court to seek a review of the ruling in his petition against Governor Kidero even as President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected anytime from now to name members of the tribunal to investigate the embattled Tunoi.
On Friday last week, the Judicial Service Commission recommended that the President form a tribunal to investigate Tunoi further over the bribery allegations.
“Hon Waititu today instructed his lawyers led by Paul Muite, myself and Harrison Kamau to move to the Supreme Court and set aside the Kidero judgment. By next week we shall file an application at the Supreme Court to declare the seat vacant and throw out Kidero,” Abdullahi said via Twitter on Friday.
Speaking at St Paul's ACK church in Kiambu yesterday during a funds drive, Kidero, who was flanked by a host of deputy governors and MPs, said that political mercenaries led by lawyer Abdullahi are out to ensure that his name is tainted and maligned.
He said that he is happy Justice Tunoi recently said that he is ready to face the tribunal now being formed to look into the allegations.
Kidero told the congregation that he does not know Judge Tunoi and has never even shaken hands with him.
“The closest I have ever come before the Judge was when I was in court. I saw him read the judgment and I have never interacted with him," he said.
Kidero said that he left the Mumias Sugar Company to come and run for Nairobi Governor so that he can help solve the many problems that city residents were going through.
Kidero added that he pities President Uhuru Kenyatta because he is surrounded by mercenaries, although he means well for the Kenyan people.