The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested Senior Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi and Principal Probation Officer Julius Irungu Njogu at a Kangema Township restaurant, in a case alleging they solicited and received a bribe to influence a criminal verdict. Investigators say the bribery involved promising a favorable probation report to secure a non-custodial sentence for a businessman convicted on July 2, 2026, with sentencing due on July 22. The suspects allegedly received about Sh150,000 after the complainant was approached claiming to act on behalf of the magistrate, with initial reports noting an alleged request of Sh170,000. They are being held at Nyeri Central Police Station and were slated for processing at the EACC Central Regional Office, as part of an undercover operation that captured the exchange. The arrests come amid broader scrutiny of the judiciary, including a countrywide boycott by lawyers organized through the Law Society of Kenya that has intensified concerns over accountability and integrity within the system. EACC says it remains committed to tackling bribery at service delivery points to improve public services for citizens.