A dishonest judge who twists the facts and the law to favor a specific litigant is not serving justice; they are selling it. Senior lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi recently brought this dark reality to light by calling these individuals “JurisPESA” judges.
He warned that these wrecked judges will destroy Kenya if they are allowed to continue operating. When the judiciary becomes a marketplace where the highest bidder wins, the very foundation of the nation begins to crumble.
Justice must be fair and blind, but the emergence of corrupt judicial figures threatens to turn the courts into tools for personal enrichment.
One prominent name that has surfaced in these critical discussions about judicial integrity is Justice Josephine Mong’are.
Serving as a High Court judge in the Commercial and Tax Division, her station is critical for Kenya’s economy, yet her conduct has sparked serious public concern.
There are mounting reports of formal complaints against her, highlighting disturbing claims of bribery and professional misconduct.
Multiple lawyers and litigants involved in cases before her have alleged that they were approached for money to influence the final outcomes of their files. This direct attack on fairness in commercial disputes shows how deep the rot goes when a judge decides to ignore their constitutional oath for financial gain.
Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi during a past court appearance. PHOTO | COURTESY
When a judge like Mong’are faces such heavy allegations, the entire legal system suffers a massive blow. A court is supposed to be a sanctuary of truth, but when facts are distorted and laws are bent to reach a predetermined position for a wealthy litigant, ordinary Kenyans lose all faith.
People start to see the courts as corrupt businesses rather than halls of justice.
This completely ruins public confidence in land disputes, family matters, and massive public interest cases. If everyday citizens believe that they can never get a fair hearing because they lack the money to buy a judge, they will stop using the legal system altogether, leading to total lawlessness.
Ahmednasir Abdullahi has maintained a long and consistent record of exposing these deep-seated problems within the judiciary. His sharp warning about wrecked judges points to a dangerous future for Kenya.
If judges intentionally lie about evidence or manipulate legal rules, the country cannot build a strong or stable economy.
Foreign investors will quickly stay away from a country where contracts and tax disputes are decided by bribes rather than clear laws.
Justice Josephine Mong’are is currently at the center of a major corporate controversy after issuing a surprise court order in Machakos that halted a multi-billion shilling share sale involving East African Breweries Limited.
This unexpected injunction froze the massive deal between EABL’s majority shareholder Diageo and Japan’s Asahi Group, even though multiple courts in Nairobi had already dismissed previous attempts to block the transaction.
The ruling triggered widespread condemnation from the legal fraternity over blatant forum shopping and the abuse of judicial power to undermine investor confidence.
Senior lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi strongly called out the judge over the decision, publicly warning that such sudden commercial injunctions are often used as strategic traps to create pressure points for bribery rather than to deliver actual justice.
Furthermore, crime grows rapidly when wealthy criminals realize they can simply purchase their freedom, leaving ordinary citizens completely powerless against oppression.
The Kenyan Constitution strictly demands that all judges remain fully independent, honest, and protective of the law. While many hard-working and fair judges perform their duties with honor, the actions of corrupt individuals stain the reputation of the entire institution. This is deeply unfair to the clean judges, which is why institutions like the Judicial Service Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission must act immediately.
Complaints against figures like Justice Josephine Mong’are cannot be ignored or swept under the rug; they must be investigated openly and swiftly.
Any judge facing serious claims of corruption should be suspended from hearing cases until their name is completely cleared.
Cleaning up the courts is the only way to protect individual rights and secure the nation’s future.
