Senior Counsel’s corruption allegations against unnamed Supreme Court judge now directly implicate Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu in KES 4 million bribery scheme
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has been directly implicated in a KES 4 million bribery scandal involving a Supreme Court judge, according to explosive allegations made by prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC.
The stunning revelation emerged during a heated exchange on social media, where Dr. Ekuru Aukot, a constitutional lawyer, publicly confronted Ahmednasir about his earlier corruption exposé, demanding he name the judge he had accused of taking bribes.
In a categorical response that has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s legal fraternity, Ahmednasir stated that the judge in question is “DCJ Philomena Mwilu of the Supreme Court of Kenya,” marking the first time he has directly named a sitting Supreme Court judge in his ongoing corruption allegations.
The bribery allegations
According to Ahmednasir’s social media posts, which have garnered significant public attention, a Supreme Court judge received KES 4 million from a lawyer and client to influence an appellate court decision.
However, when the case did not go in favour of the bribe-givers, the judge allegedly refunded the money.
“The judge paid the last instalment of KShs 1 million over the weekend,” Ahmednasir claimed in his latest post, suggesting that KES 3 million had been previously refunded, with the final KES 1 million payment completing the refund process.
The senior counsel indicated that he was closing the matter after receiving the refund, but noted that his legal fees for recovering the money from the judge remained outstanding.
“My fee is recoverable from the judge and not the innocent Kenyan who was forced to give a bribe,” he stated.
Judiciary’s retaliatory response
The timing of these specific allegations against Deputy CJ Mwilu is particularly significant, coming just days after the Office of the Chief Registrar requested Ahmednasir’s investigation and possible prosecution for his corruption exposés.
In a letter dated May 20, 2025, addressed to Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, Chief Registrar Winfridah Mokaya accused Ahmednasir of making “repeated and unfounded allegations of judicial corruption via social media” without formally reporting the claims to relevant investigative authorities.
The letter warned that such unsubstantiated public allegations could undermine public trust in the judicial system and potentially constitute criminal conduct under Kenyan law.
Ahmednasir’s defiant response
Responding to the Judiciary’s move, Ahmednasir has remained defiant, accusing the institution of engaging in cover-ups rather than addressing corruption within its ranks.
“Instead of investigating the matter and arresting the Judge of the Supreme Court who took a bribe of Sh6 million in a case before the Court of Appeal, she [Chief Registrar] has the audacity to write to the Public Prosecutor for my investigation and ask for my arrest!” he exclaimed.
The senior counsel has questioned the competence of Chief Registrar Mokaya, accusing her of shielding judicial officers implicated in corruption.
He also raised questions about the legitimacy of the letter requesting his prosecution, asking why Mokaya did not personally sign the correspondence.
Mwilu’s troubled tenure
The bribery allegations add to Deputy Chief Justice Mwilu’s mounting legal troubles.
She is already facing renewed calls for removal from office following accusations of constitutional overreach in the Rigathi Gachagua impeachment case.
A petition lodged with the Judicial Service Commission by Nairobi-based petitioner Belinda Egesa claims that Mwilu unlawfully empanelled a High Court bench to hear the case challenging Professor Kithure Kindiki’s swearing-in as Deputy President—an authority strictly reserved for Chief Justice Martha Koome.
This marks the third attempt to unseat Mwilu, who previously survived allegations of misconduct in 2021.
The direct naming of Deputy CJ Mwilu in the bribery scandal represents a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Ahmednasir and the Judiciary.
The senior counsel has been a persistent critic of judicial corruption and was previously barred by the Supreme Court from litigating before it over similar attacks on the institution.
The allegations have attracted support from other legal professionals, with some calling for Mwilu to be named and shamed.
However, the claims remain unsubstantiated by formal investigation, and no official charges have been filed.
These developments occur amid broader scrutiny of Kenya’s Judiciary, which continues to face corruption allegations from high-profile legal professionals, including former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi.
The case has also drawn attention to the reference to legal precedents, with Ahmednasir citing “three judgments delivered by Judge Azdak in Bertolt Brecht’s play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle” in justification of his actions—a literary reference that underscores the dramatic nature of the unfolding controversy.
At the time of publication, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had not issued a statement in response to the Judiciary’s request for action against Ahmednasir.
Deputy Chief Justice Mwilu’s office has also not responded to requests for comment on the bribery allegations.
The controversy continues to unfold, with significant implications for public trust in Kenya’s highest judicial institutions and the ongoing debate about accountability within the country’s justice system.
This is a developing story. We will continue to monitor and report on new developments as they emerge.
