Ex-Kasarani MP Arrested Over Sh100K Bribe

Former Kasarani Member of Parliament John Njoroge has been implicated in a corruption case after allegedly being arrested while pocketing Sh100,000 in treated notes, money said to have been solicited from a contractor to facilitate payment for a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) project.

The money was allegedly demanded as a bribe to enable the release of Sh3.3 million owed to the contractor for works undertaken at Baba Dogo Secondary School.

Contractor Testifies in Court

Testifying before Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi at the Milimani Law Courts, contractor Abdirahman Mohamed told the court that the former MP demanded the money in exchange for facilitating payment for a CDF-funded project.

Mohamed said he had been contracted to construct a tuition block at Baba Dogo Secondary School but encountered difficulties in receiving payment.

“The MP told me to give him money so that my cheque could be processed,” Mohamed testified.

Demand for Additional Sh50,000

According to the witness, Njoroge further demanded an additional Sh50,000, claiming the money would be used to pay CDF officials responsible for processing the payment of Sh3,342,716.77.

Mohamed made the revelations while being led in evidence by Senior State Counsel Hellen Mutellah.

EACC Sting Operation

Mohamed told the court that he reported the matter to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which mounted a sting operation.

He said EACC officers provided him with treated Sh100,000 and a tape recorder to capture the transaction.

“On June 4, 2013, at around noon, I drove to the Continental House parking yard and called Chege so that we could meet,” Mohamed testified.

“After a few minutes, Chege came from his office and sat in the passenger seat. I handed him the envelope containing the treated money and asked him to confirm if it was the amount he had requested.”

Mohamed said he then alerted EACC officers, who immediately arrested the former MP and recovered the treated cash from his pocket.

Accused Denies Charges

Njoroge has denied the charges of corruptly soliciting and receiving Sh100,000 as an inducement to facilitate payment for the Baba Dogo Secondary School project.

High Court Orders Retrial

The case is proceeding as a retrial, after the High Court ordered fresh proceedings following an application by the former MP seeking to have the matter terminated.

The hearing continues.