Isaac Lenaola’s name has become central in the storm of corruption claims shaking the judiciary, as his role in several disputed cases raises questions about the integrity of the Supreme Court.
His mention in Captain Kung’u Muigai’s complaints, alongside separate allegations from the Keen family, shows a disturbing pattern that cannot be ignored.
Muigai’s property, valued at more than Sh3 billion, was lost after a loan from the 1980s ended in an auction that he insists was based on a consent order and judgment that do not exist.
He accused 18 judges of taking bribes to frustrate him, yet the Judicial Service Commission dismissed his complaints without action.
At the heart of this mess, Lenaola has been accused of playing a role in upholding the auction despite missing court records, a decision that only deepens suspicion about his conduct.
The case became even darker when Muigai’s lawyer, Kyalo Mbobu, was shot dead in Nairobi.
His death, described by the Law Society of Kenya as a planned assassination, has been linked to his involvement in high-stakes cases like Muigai’s.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations opened a probe, but so far, there has been little movement, adding to fears that Mbobu’s murder was connected to the corruption he was trying to challenge. His killing shows the dangers faced by those who expose deep-rooted judicial fraud.
Nelson Havi, the former president of the Law Society, has taken a bold stand, demanding that the judiciary produce the missing documents to prove whether fraud occurred. He has accused the JSC of protecting corrupt judges and called for the removal of Chief Justice Martha Koome.
In his view, Lenaola stands out as a symbol of the rot, with multiple complaints against him ignored while he continues to serve at the highest level of the judiciary.
Lenaola’s involvement in the Sh13 billion Keen family estate only adds weight to the concerns. Victoria Keen has accused him of forgery, conflict of interest, and using his position as executor to irregularly transfer properties, including one he allegedly acquired for himself.
Despite her petition for his removal, the JSC has taken no meaningful action. Havi has gone as far as describing Lenaola as a dangerous figure unfit to serve on the bench, warning that his continued presence erodes public trust in the Supreme Court.
The judiciary’s official response to Muigai’s claims has only worsened matters. Instead of providing the documents to prove the auction was legitimate, the spokesperson dismissed the claims as malicious.
This avoidance has fueled the perception that fraud and bribery are at the heart of the case. Boycotts by lawyers and litigants in Busia against corrupt magistrates are setting a precedent, and similar action against judges like Lenaola could spread nationwide as frustrations grow.
What emerges from Muigai’s ordeal and Keen’s accusations is a picture of a judiciary that protects its own while victims are left ruined.
Banks and judges appear to collude in asset grabs, with ordinary Kenyans as vulnerable as prominent families.
Critics like Ahmednasir Abdullahi have long spoken about corruption in the Supreme Court, and the current scandals show they were right.
Mbobu’s murder underlines that this corruption is not only about lost property, but also about lives lost, and Lenaola’s continued service is a dangerous signal that impunity still rules.
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