EACC Raids Chief Magistrate's House, Seizes Ksh2.1 Million In Cash
The anti-graft agency confirmed that the probe was initiated following multiple complaints accusing the magistrate of soliciting and accepting bribes from individuals facing criminal charges in her court.
Marvin Chege 
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday, March 13 raided the residence of a Chief Magistrate at the Thika Law Courts as part of an investigation into her conduct over allegations of bribery.
In a statement issued by EACC Chairperson Abdi Mohamud, the anti-graft agency confirmed that the probe was initiated following multiple complaints accusing the magistrate of soliciting and accepting bribes from individuals facing criminal charges in 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.
EACC claimed that on diverse dates, the Chief Magistrate received various amounts of money through a Clerk in her court, which is suspected to have been solicited from accused persons.
EACC offices at Integrity Centre in Nairobi. /FILE
Armed with search warrants, officers from the anti-corruption body conducted searches at the residences of the Chief Magistrate and the Clerk to obtain relevant documents and information to support the investigations.
"A total of Ksh2,070,000 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," added EACC.
The Chief Magistrate and the Clerk were escorted to EACC Headquarters for an interview and statement recording, pending the submission of the findings to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
"We had a meeting with the Chief Justice. In that meeting, she raised the concern that she is receiving reports that some of her officers are taking bribes and, therefore, subverting justice. And so, on her own initiative, she called upon us to help her in this area," Oginde stated.
In other related news, the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi sentenced a Police Inspector to two years in prison or a fine of Ksh 550,000 on Thursday. The officer was convicted for soliciting and accepting a Ksh 10,000 bribe to illegally secure the release of two suspects from police custody.
In her ruling, Principal Magistrate Isabellah Barasa convicted the officer on two counts of bribery, citing violations of Sections 6 and 18 of the Bribery Act.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on April 25, 2021, at Kasarani Police Station, where the officer, while on duty, demanded Ksh10,000 in exchange for unlawfully releasing two detainees—a man and a woman.
The case was built on testimony from nine witnesses, leading to her conviction. The EACC launched an investigation after receiving a complaint, ultimately arresting the officer.
EACC detectives confirmed that the arrest was sanctioned by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who validated the allegations. The suspect was arraigned and later released on cash bail after being processed at the Integrity Centre Police Station in July 2023.
