This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
On August 3, 2020, the family of convicted Sirisia MP John Waluke faced a daunting task: raising the Ksh 1 billion fine imposed by the Anti-corruption court.
The MP and his co-accused Grace Wakhungu were jailed over their involvement in the Ksh 297 million National Cereals and Produce Board Scandal (NCPB).
Waluke risks spending the next 67 years at Kamiti Maximum Prisons if his family fails to raise the fine.
The family has been threatened by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Anti-corruption Commission, which have vowed to track the source of any money used to secure his freedom.
As a result, potential donors have been scared off, leaving the family with a significant shortfall.
So far, the Waluke family has managed to raise Ksh 250 million, but the court is set to make a ruling on his bail application this Friday.
Waluke's lawyers will face an uphill battle convincing the court to release him on bail, given that bonds are typically only given to suspects.
