Ruto corruption in LSK laid bare as Ojienda easily buys off LSK council members -

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Senior Counsel Tom Ojienda’s campaign for the male representative of the Law Society of Kenya at the Judicial Service Commission took an unprecedented turn after details of a the bribery scandal started emerging.

Kenyan News Day reliably learnt that Ojienda, who is widely perceived to be Deputy President William Ruto’s puppet at the JSC, paid out a total of Sh15 million to the entire membership of the LSK Council which met and approved his candidature yesterday.

Nelson Havi, the diminutive lawyer now on Ojienda’s payroll and heading his propaganda wing was part of the deal.

A member of the council who did not want to be named revealed to Kenyan News Day that the money was secretly paid to council members amidst a court ruling technically barring Ojienda from the position.

At yesterday’s LSK meeting, members who had previously strongly opposed Ojienda’s candidacy were all smiles and had no problem endorsing him as a LSK nominee to contest the JSC elections.

Ironically, in court papers filed by its lawyer Paul Muite, the LSK had maintained that it would not clear Ojienda to vie for another term as a member of the JSC in the upcoming elections.

Our source said the LSK President Allen Gichuhi and Vice President Harriet Chiggai each received Sh1.5 million, while the rest of the membership were each paid Sh1million.

Other members of the LSK council reportedly compromised by Ojienda are Roseline Odede, Maria Mbeneka, Eric Wafula Nyongesa, Aluso Ingati, Boniface Akusala, Bernard Ngetich, Jane Masai, David Njuguna, Herine Kabita, Carolyne Kamende Daudi and Ndinda Kinyili.

Sources also confirmed to Kenyan News Day that council members Chiggai, Kabita and Akusala visited on Ojienda’s private chambers at Muthaiga Golf View Office Suites, and in the company of lawyer Nelson Havi, were paid the money used to bribe the entire LSK council.

Once the money was paid out to the council members, Ojienda became an instantly acceptable candidate with some members going as far as demanding LSK withdraw from the KRA case.

The Court of Appeal had granted Stay of Execution of Orders to the Kenya Revenue Authority decision not to give Ojienda a valid tax clearance certificate which he needs to be eligible hold a public position.

In December last year, KRA appealed the High Court ruling ordering it to grant Ojienda a tax compliance certificate despite a pending tax arrears amounting to Sh 444 million.

It is not lost on political observers that Ojienda was retained by Ruto to act as the lead lawyer defending his close allies facing grand corruption charges such as Nakuru Businessman Sam Mburu and disgraced former Kenya Pipeline CEO Joe Sang.

The Ojienda saga demonstrates how far DP Ruto is prepared to go to ensure Ojienda retains his position at the JSC.

The duo are now headed to the Supreme Court for a determination of the Ojienda versus KRA.

At the end of last year, Kenyans were amazed at how fast Ojienda obtained court orders to stop his imminent prosecution over alleged defrauding of Mumias Sugar Company. 

This came soon after he had similarly obtained orders prohibiting the officials, agents, servants and employees of KRA from starting “any civil or criminal proceedings, arresting, summoning, questioning, threatening or in any way harassing Ojienda) with respect to any tax issues or questions for the period 2009 to 2016”.

In July last year, the LSK council paid a official call on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission where the two institutions purportedly pledged to jointly work in the fight against corruption. The LSK delegation was led by the Vice President Ms. Harriette Chiggai who was accompanied by LSK CEO Ms. Mercy Wambua. Also in attendance were Council members represented from various counties. 

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