- In the case, Njiru is accused of asking for Sh130,000 bribe from a private developer to allow her continue developing her plot.
- The MCA however denied the charges and was released on a Sh1 million bond or Sh500, 000 cash bail.
Image: JOHN KAMAU
A Thika court yesterday slapped Kiambu County assembly Deputy Speaker John Njiru with a Sh1 million bond with one surety of a similar amount or an alternative of cash bail of Sh500,000, in a bribery case.
In the case, Njiru is accused of asking for Sh130,000 bribe from a private developer to allow her continue developing her plot.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Atiang Mitullah, Njiru was charged that on May 29, 2023, at a hotel in Thika town, being a person employed by a public body, requested for a financial advantage of Sh130,000 from Anna Nduta to allow her continue developing her plot.
The Hospital ward MCA however denied the charges and was released on a Sh1 million bond or Sh500,000 cash bail.
Njiru also faced a second charge of receiving a Sh130,000 bribe from Nduta on May 30, 2023 at a community hall in Thika town which he equally denied.
The magistrate in his ruling instructed Njiru to deposit his passport in court until the case is heard and determined, and ordered him not to interfere with the witnesses nor contact them.
“The accused is hereby admitted to a bond of Sh1 million with one surety of a similar amount. In the alternative, the accused person may be released on a cash bail of Sh500,000.
The accused is reminded that he should refrain from interfering with the witnesses in view of the position that he holds and above that, I hereby order that the accused will deposit his passport in court until such a time that this case is determined, or unless the court orders otherwise when there is a need or a necessity to travel out of the country,” ordered Mitullah.
The case will be mentioned on May 10, and hearing on July 17, 2024.
Njiru was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on June 13, 2023 over bribery and has been out on EACC police bail awaiting approval of the charges by the DPP.
He is alleged to have demanded a bribe in order to 'facilitate' and have the complainant be allowed to develop her plot worth Sh15 million within Thika town.