Journalist testifies in graft case

By Karanja Njoroge and Victor Mukele

A journalist narrated how a school director tried to offer him a bribe not to publish a story on the death of a pupil at the institution.

Mr Alex Kiprotich of The Standard said Mr Isaac Kamunya of Gilgil Hill Academy made numerous attempts to have a story on the death of Linda Koech not published.

The reporter was testifying during the hearing of a case in which Kamunya is charged with three counts of corruption.

The charges state that he corruptly offered an unspecified amount of cash to Kiprotich on December 1, last year at The Standard offices in Nakuru to stop him from publishing the story of the death, which occurred on July 28, last year, due to alleged negligence.

Kamunya faces a second count of corruptly offering Sh20,000 to the journalist on March 12, this year through an agent, Mr Michael Rotich Tuitoek.

The third charge stated that on March 13, at Stem Hotel, Kamunya corruptly offered Kiprotich Sh70,000 to stop him from publishing the article.

Seeking assistance

Kiprotich yesterday told Nakuru Chief Magistrate Wilbroda Juma that after failing to convince him, Kamunya resorted to sending emissaries to plead with him to accept a bribe and ‘kill’ the story.

The reporter recalled how the parents of the late Linda approached him at the Standard Group Nakuru offices seeking assistance to unravel the circumstance surrounding their daughter’s death.

Kiprotich said after coming under a lot of pressure, he decided to involve some top editors and Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) officers.

"I wrote an email to the Standard Managing Editor Weekend Editions and suggested we involve Kacc since these people were determined to bribe me," he told the Court.

The reporter said Kacc officers arrived in Nakuru on March 13, where they laid a trap for Kamunya.

Hearing continues.

 

 

Read all about: The Standard Isaac Kamunya Gilgil Hill Academy Linda Koech Nakuru Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Kacc

 

 

---