Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola Denies KSh1 Million Bribery Claim in Viral TikTok Video

Nairobi, Kenya — 2025-09-16 12:30 EAT. A public feud has broken out between Supreme Court judge Isaac Lenaolaand Captain (ret.) Kung’u Muigai, a cousin of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, after Muigai posted a viral TikTok video accusing the judge of taking a KSh1 million bribe in a decades-old case involving a firm and a bank.

The Latest

• Accusation: Muigai alleged Lenaola accepted the bribe in a supermarket parking lot before ruling in the bank’s favour.

• Judge’s response: Through his lawyers, Lenaola dismissed the allegations as “false, malicious, and defamatory”and demanded Muigai delete the video, issue a public apology, and cease further claims.

• Viral impact: The video had garnered 6,200+ likes and 1,700 reposts before the demand letter was issued.

Context and Background

• Lenaola has served in the judiciary for over 22 years, including on Kenya’s Supreme Court.

• The Judiciary spokesperson, Paul Ndemo, confirmed that similar complaints had previously been reviewed and dismissed by the Judicial Service Commission for lack of evidence.

• Officials emphasised that unfavourable court decisions do not constitute proof of corruption.

Voices and Stakeholders

• Isaac Lenaola’s legal team: Accused Muigai of a “calculated scheme to embarrass the judge” and vowed legal action if demands are unmet.

• Captain (ret.) Kung’u Muigai: Stood by his allegations, retaining former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi as his lawyer.

• Judiciary officials: Urged respect for judicial independence and warned against politically motivated attacks on judges.

Implications

• Judiciary credibility: Raises questions about balancing free expression with protection against defamation of public officials.

• Political undertones: Links to the Uhuru Kenyatta family could inflame perceptions of political interference in judicial matters.

• Legal action: Possible civil or criminal defamation suits if Muigai refuses to retract his claims.

What to Watch

• Whether Muigai retracts the allegations or faces court action.

• Judiciary’s stance on public criticism and potential disciplinary reviews.

• Impact on public trust in Kenya’s judicial system ahead of high-stakes 2027 elections.