Justice Maureen Onyango
An ex-Standard Chartered employee has written a letter to Chief Justice Martha Koome, alleging widespread corruption within the Environment and Labour Relations Court. The letter specifically accuses
of accepting bribes from senior Standard Chartered Bank executives to compromise the employee’s case.
This alarming claim sheds light on potential corruption within the judiciary, raising serious concerns about the integrity of judicial rulings and the fairness of labor dispute resolutions. The accusations have prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Dear Chief Justice Martha Koome, I am writing to bring to your attention significant concerns regarding the handling of my lawsuit against Standard Chartered Bank at the Employment and Labour Relations Court,” Mr. Charles J.M. Mbuthia stated in his letter to the CJ.
The letter, which is in possession of several media outlets, further narrates how Lady Justice Maureen Onyango allegedly acted in a conflicted manner, providing evidence of how the events unfolded.
“There is substantial evidence indicating that Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) has deeply infiltrated the judiciary,” the letter states, adding that a senior official at the bank has been openly mocking court rulings, especially when they favor employees.
“A senior executive of SCB, who also sits on the bank’s Board of Directors, unrepentantly ridiculed a judiciary ruling unfavorable to employers. The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) appears to be entangled in SCB’s negative influence over the judiciary,” he claimed.
In addition to Justice Onyango, another judge from the Labour Relations Court has also been mentioned in the corruption claims, though the details surrounding Onyango are reportedly more damaging.
Mbuthia also revealed that he had received threats of disciplinary action after exposing the corruption within the bank during his lawsuit.
“I have faced intimidation and threats aimed at silencing me, highlighting the lengths to which the bank is willing to go to avoid accountability,” read part of the court papers.
He further disclosed that a relative, who is also a judge, had privately informed him about the corruption within the judiciary, including Justice Onyango’s alleged involvement.
“A close relative, who also serves as a judge at the ELRC, confided in me about troubling practices within the judiciary, including forum shopping. He supported my efforts to expose these issues and revealed that his colleague appeared conflicted. This judge should be protected for his commendable stance against judicial misconduct. I wish to state categorically that in the preparation and writing of this letter, there has been no collusion or undue influence by my relative,” he wrote.
The letter also mentions misconduct by the advocate representing Standard Chartered Bank, accusing the lawyer of openly siding with the conflicted judge.
“The lawyer representing Standard Chartered Bank exhibited unethical behavior by defending the conflicted judge against my recusal request. This raises serious concerns about collusion and the ethical standards of legal representatives within the ELRC,” Mbuthia stated.
Due to these cumulative issues, Mbuthia’s suit was dismissed under what he described as suspicious circumstances, and he has called for a serious probe into the matter.
“I urgently request the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to conduct a thorough investigation into these matters, ensure accountability, and take appropriate action to restore the integrity of the judiciary,” he added.
Charles Mbuthia initially sued Standard Chartered Bank for unfair dismissal, but his case was dismissed. He has since appealed the decision, but his letter to the Chief Justice was meant to address the deeper corruption at both Standard Chartered Bank and within the judiciary.
“I want to emphasize that this letter is not intended to influence or prejudice my appeal before the Court of Appeal or any other legal proceedings. Furthermore, I do not intend to disparage the ELRC as a whole. I recognize that the ELRC includes many honorable judicial officers; however, there appear to be serious issues undermining its integrity,” he concluded.
The documents further reveal that Standard Chartered Bank has failed to comply with a previous court order issued in Mbuthia’s favor, and that certain officers within the bank maintain unusually close relationships with judicial officials, casting doubt on the impartiality of the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
