Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke will now serve a 67-year jail term after the High Court declined to overturn his conviction.
In her ruling, Justice Esther Maina of the Anti-Corruption, High Court Division in Nairobi stated that the sentence imposed by the lower court on Waluke and business partner Grace Wakhungu was not excessive and dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
According to Judge Maina, the charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and the sentencing is not excessive because it is within the law.
“I find that the sentences were not excessive. They are within the law. Therefore the conviction and sentences are affirmed,” the judge ruled.
Waluke and Wakhungu, according to Maina, will have to pay the fines or serve their sentences.
Wakhungu was sentenced to 69 years in prison.
If they do not pay the over Sh2 billion in fines imposed by the trial court, they will be sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
After serving three months in jail, the two were released on Sh10 million and Sh20 million cash bail, respectively, in September 2020.
The Anti-Corruption Court imprisoned them on June 22, 2020, after they were found guilty of fraud and illegal acquisition of Sh297 million through shady deals at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
To be released, Waluke must pay a fine of Sh727,725,562 and Wakhungu a fine of Sh707,725,562.
The MP is in his third term after being re-elected in the August General Election.
Waluke was contesting under a Jubilee Party ticket and got 16,461 votes, followed by Nasiuma Wafula (8,811) and Moses Nandalwe of ODM (3,521).
