This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
June 23, 2020 - President Uhuru Kenyatta's war on corruption has claimed its first high-profile victim, with Member of Parliament John Walukhe and his Director facing sentencing in the Kshs. 300 million maize scandal.
According to reports, the duo was found guilty by Senior Resident Magistrate Elizabeth Juma and are due for sentencing on Thursday, 25th of this month.
Mr. Walukhe, who is the Member of Parliament for Sirisia in Bungoma County, was carted away to Kileleshwa as directed by the Magistrate pending their sentencing.
Their lawyer argued in court that the duo had bail terms still in place, but the Magistrate overruled him, stating that immediately the guilty plea was read, their bail terms ended.
The maize scandal dates back to 2004, when Erad Suppliers, a company co-directed by Mr. Walukhe and his Director, presented forged invoices to the Arbitration court and received orders to be paid Kshs. 314 million.
They claimed that they were partners with a South African firm, Chelsea Freight, who also lost in the deal, but the court found the invoices to be forgeries.
The National Cereals and Produce Board cancelled the tender due to the company's inability to supply emergency relief maize during that period.
