Court Operations Halt After Magistrate’s Phone Confiscation By EACC

A magistrate from Thika Law Courts, Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, has taken legal action against the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), seeking the return of her mobile phone, which was confiscated during a recent raid.

Through her lawyers, Dunstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, Atambo argued that the phone’s seizure had disrupted key court operations, stalling payments to contractors, case-related transactions, and refunds, leading to a growing backlog at the Thika Law Courts.

Anti-Graft Chief Magistrate Harrison Baraza certified the application as urgent and scheduled a hearing for Monday.

The phone was taken on March 13, when EACC officers raided Atambo’s home amid a bribery investigation. During the search, they allegedly recovered Ksh2,070,000 in cash inside a laptop bag. The raid followed multiple complaints accusing Atambo of soliciting bribes from accused persons.

The EACC confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating, “EACC is investigating Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo following numerous complaints alleging she demands and receives bribes from accused persons.”

Atambo, however, denied the bribery allegations, claiming that the seized money belonged to her husband and urging EACC to return it. She maintained her innocence and accused the commission of unfairly targeting her.

The High Court has since barred the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from prosecuting Atambo until a petition challenging the case’s legality is heard.

The Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) condemned the raid, describing it as part of a growing pattern of intimidation and personal attacks on judicial officers. The association warned that such actions undermine judicial independence and expose officers to public humiliation and potential mob justice.