Chief justice denies taking bribes

Kenya’s chief justice has denied accusations he received bribes to rule in favour of president Uhuru Kenyatta in a petition challenging the outcome of last month’s election that was the biggest test yet of the newly reformed judiciary.

Kenya’s Supreme Court, chaired by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, upheld Mr Kenyatta’s victory, dismissing a petition by rival candidate, former prime minister Raila Odinga. Mr Odinga accepted the verdict, helping douse tensions. Tribal violence blighted the previous election.

The judges’ unanimous decision was that Mr Kenyatta had been “validly elected”, and that Mr Odinga failed to offer enough evidence of malpractice to overturn the outcome.

But while Mr Odinga and other opposition leaders have not accused court of corruption, some Kenyans did make such charges online and even wished Mr Mutunga dead.

Mr Mutunga said the online attacks on him were “indecent, vulgar, and unacceptable”. He urged anyone with evidence of bribery to present it to the Judicial Service Commission.