Home » Sirisia MP slapped with 57 years in jail or pay KSh 1 billion fine

Sirisia MP slapped with 57 years in jail or pay KSh 1 billion fine

by Enock Ndayala

Sirisia MP John Waluke and former Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu were two years ago slapped with over 40 years in jail.

The pair was also granted the option of paying fines in excess of KSh 1 billion each.

This was after the two were found guilty of fraudulently receiving KSh 313 million from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for maize, which was never supplied.

Sirisia MP John Waluke and former Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu were in 2020 slapped with over 40 years in jail.
Sirisia MP John Waluke and former Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu were in 2020 slapped with over 40 years in jail.

However, Waluke and his co-accused appealed against a magistrate’s court ruling that slapped them with heavy sentences.

However, on Thursday, October 6, the High Court dismissed their appeals saying they were properly convicted.

Justice Sether Maina said the charges against Sirisia MP and the former CS before trial Magistrate Elizabeth Juma were proved beyond reasonable doubts.

“The sentences were not excessive. They are within the law. Conviction and sentences affirmed,” the judge said.

As such, Waluke who secured re-election in the August 9, General Election will have to serve 57 years in jail or pay KSh 1 billion fine.

If unsatisfied with the High Court verdict, the lawmaker can challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal within 14 days.

According to the Constitution of Kenya 2010, a legislator who will be jailed for more than six months will lose his parliamentary seat.

As such, Waluke will have to appeal against the decision or lose his seat just days after taking the oath of office.

Waluke, was declared the Member of Parliament for Sirisia Constituency after polling 16, 461 votes against Ford Kenya’s candidate Nasiuma Wafula who garnered 8,811 votes.

Earlier on, Waluke’s lawyer Cliffe Ombeta had pleaded with the court to slap his client with a lenient sentence saying he was an old man.

“We are begging that you give us the most lenient sentence. It is provided for in the laws. Look at his age, he is not a young man,” Ombeta said.

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