This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Juma delivered a guilty verdict against Sirisia MP John Waluke and his co-accused Grace Wakhungu, who were accused of defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board.
The court found that the duo and their company took advantage of Kenya's drought situation to commit the fraud, which resulted in a significant financial loss for the state agency.
While sentencing the two, Magistrate Juma noted that the offences were serious and that the duo had exploited a dire situation in the country.
However, she also acknowledged that the two were first-time offenders and took into account their age and the roles they play in society, exercising her discretion to show leniency.
As a result, the court directed Ms Wakhungu to pay a fine of Sh100,000 or serve one year in prison for uttering a false document, and another fine of Sh100m for purgery or serve another year in jail.
Both the convicts and the company were also directed to pay a fine of Sh626 million each or serve seven years in jail for receiving fraudulent payment from NCPB.
