How school director walked into trap
March 16th, 2009
By Standard Reporter
A director of a private school in Gilgil out to frustrate publication of a story on unresolved death of a student in his institution walked into a trap on Friday evening.
The director of the high-class institution walked into a Nakuru hotel, in company of two ‘brokers’, to meet the Standard Group reporter.
Mr Isaac Kamunya, the school’s director. Photo: Lucas Thuo/Standard
Unknown to the group keen on ‘killing’ the story on the death of Linda Koech eight months ago, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission investigators were lying in wait. The moment came after about three hours of haggling – when the Gilgil Hills School director, Mr Isaac Kamunya, pulled out a wad of notes – totalling Sh70,000. Waiting to ‘receive’ the bundle was our writer Alex Kiprotich.
Kamunya wanted Kiprotich to stop the publication of a story on the death of a pupil at the institution due to alleged negligence.
According to the reporter, the school proprietor had on several occasions, through emissaries, attempted to offer bribes ranging from Sh20,000 to Sh100,000. "I have been receiving calls from various people including some from my home, asking me to stop the publication of the story. They asked me to declare how much money I wanted," he said.
One of the emissaries told the reporter how the ‘wealthy’ Kamunya was ready to part with any amount he asked for.
Kiprotich reported the matter to Standard Group management in Nairobi. That was when Kacc was brought into the picture and the elaborate trap laid. On Friday, the reporter agreed to meet Kamunya and his emissaries at the Stem Hotel where he argued his case with the reporter. In the process, he pulled out the money, which was unsolicited.
Linda Chepkorir Koech, 12, died in mysterious circumstances.
This happened as three Kacc officers recorded the conversation using a video camera from a strategic position within the hotel.
"The negotiations took almost three hours before I was given the money," he said.
The entire drama was captured on video and our photographer clicked away as detectives led Kamunya to a waiting unmarked vehicle.
Kamunya recorded a statement at Nakuru’s Railway Police Station but was later released on Sh50,000 bond.
He will appear in court in Nakuru on Tuesday, according to the investigators. His emissaries also recorded their statements with the detectives.
Source.standard.ke