How Kenyan pastor tried to bribe me – AG Nominee Paul Kihara reveals
Kenyan pastor exposed by AG nominee Paul Kihara
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Kihara, the former President of the Court of Appeal, was pressed to explain how he would deal with integrity issue if appointed as the new AG.
The question prompted the ex-judge to narrate an account where a Kenyan priest tried to bribe him to drop certain cases before his court or be lenient to accused individuals.
“You go to church, and as you a leaving, a priest embraces you, and tells you "na ukumbuke Yule ni mtu wetu" in regards to a case you are hearing,” he told the vetting panel at County Hall.
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Kihara noted he never once succumbed to such pressures assuring the committee that he was not a corrupt individual
“I hear it but it goes through the other ear. I will not compromise, not now, not ever,” he said.
Kihara added: "At times I have been under tremendous pressure from family, Executive & Parliament. I've constituted thousands of benches, and not once have I ever been accused of doing it underhandedly. In my 16 years as a judge not once have I ever been accused of taking a bribe."
Last year, during the much heated election period, the former judge was on the spot for constituting a bench on a public holiday that overturned a High Court decision declaring the appointment of IEBC returning officers illegal.
His move was viewed as suspicious as the ruling was issued on the night of the October 26th election.
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When probed over this issue, Mr Kihara defended himself stating that he only did what the law requires of him and never participated in the case directly.
"One member of that duty bench was not traceable. So it befell me to find somebody else. The power of the President of the Court of Appeal are clearly set out in the statute. It says that the President of the court shall be the head of the court and in that regard shall oversee the proper management and administration of the court.
"Secondly he will be responsible for the allocation of cases and constitution of benches a bench and ensuring the benches President of the Court," he said.
Mr. Kihara was nominated to replace former AG Githu Muigai after handing his resignation to the Head of State.
In a press statement, President Kenyatta made the unexpected resignation to the public stating"I have received with regret the resignation of Attorney General Prof. Githu Muigai. I thank him for his service for the last six and a half years. I have nominated as his replacement Judge Paul Kihara Kariuki".
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