Businessman Accuses Justice Ombwayo of Soliciting Bribes in Land Case, Provides M-Pesa Records as Evidence

A Nakuru businessman has filed a formal petition with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) alleging that a High Court judge solicited bribes in connection with an ongoing land dispute case, providing mobile money transaction records as evidence.

According to documents received by the JSC on April 7, 2025, Juma Okumu has filed petition number JSC 49/2025 seeking the recusal of Justice Anthony O. Ombwayo from an Environment and Land Court case in Nakuru.

In his sworn affidavit, Okumu claims that on June 21, 2023, Justice Ombwayo made phone calls using a mobile number (0762458130) to a litigant or their representative, requesting Ksh. 300,000.

The affidavit alleges the judge instructed the litigant through an intermediary, identified as Mr. Kariuki, to transfer funds to two separate mobile numbers.

Okumu states he obtained M-Pesa statements showing that Ksh. 200,000 was sent to a Safaricom number (0790234852) registered to Violet Mumia, and Ksh. 100,000 to another Safaricom till number (921088) registered to Omutanyi Esther 3.

“I am aware that Violet Mumia is a close relative to the Judge,” Okumu declares in his affidavit reviewed by Kenya Insights.

“I am further aware that [the] mobile number 0790234852 is registered in her name – Violet Mumia, the same has at all times material to the instant application for recusal been under use and control of another very close relative to the Judge.”

The petition involves two related cases: Nakuru ELC Case No. E033 of 2023 (Omar Mohamed Omar & Another v. Joshua Kulei & 5 Others) and Nakuru ELC E011 of 2024 (Juma Okumu v. Agricultural Development Corporation & 7 Others).

The Judicial Service Commission has acknowledged receipt of the petition in a letter signed by Acting Registrar Isaac J. M. Wamaasa, stating it “is being processed in accordance with the law and the progress/decision of the Commission on the Petition shall be communicated to you.”

Okumu argues that Justice Ombwayo should have disclosed alleged dealings with parties in the case, claiming “millions of shillings have been collected by him in connection with the above dispute to subvert justice.”

The businessman’s affidavit invokes the judicial principle that “justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done,” as grounds for requesting the judge’s recusal.

The petition is being handled by Keaton & Keaton Advocates, based in Nairobi.

The JSC has assigned reference number JSC Petition No. 49/2025 to the case.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​