This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
On Sunday, July 19, 2020, a group of Western region leaders, led by former Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, held prayers at Sirisia MP John Waluke's home in Sirisia. The prayers were held ahead of Waluke's appeal hearing at the High Court on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
Waluke, who was jailed for 67 years or an alternative fine of more than Ksh1 billion after being found guilty of defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board, is still at the Industrial Area Prison. His co-accused, Grace Wakhungu, is spending her time at the Langata Women's Prison.
According to reports, Waluke plans to contest his conviction through his lawyers, saying it was based on a defective charge sheet.
Deputy President William Ruto's allies, who were in attendance, expressed their delight after being allowed to meet with churches countrywide, following a number of their meetings being disrupted by police.
Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama led the praise and worship, while Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga preached in the meeting. The leaders noted that they had not met to do any politics but to make sure that they put the appeals in God's hands and prayed for leniency from the judge.
Earlier on in the day, Bonny Khalwale had revealed that he was headed for the prayers as he stopped to help a vendor by the roadside. He tweeted, 'On my way to attend a church service in Sirisia early this morning (for our, incarcerated brother Hon Waluke) I met this young hustler woman. Touched, I stopped to empower her. May God bless and reward the hands of our hustler women in Kenya.'
