Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi—Sirisia MP John Waluke and one-time Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu’s mother have been handed a reprieve by the Court of Appeal, which rescinded their jail sentences and fines after they were convicted in a corruption case.
Source: Twitter
Waluke and Grace Wakhungu were ordered to pay a KSh 1 billion fine or serve a 65-year jail sentence after being found guilty in a KSh 297 million National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) fraud case.
Appellate court judges Patrick Kiage, Abida Ali Aroni, and Asike Makhandia found that the trial court did not sufficiently analyse the prosecution’s evidence.
“We entirely agree with the above exposition of the law on the issue. The appellants have complained throughout that the appellate court did not re-analyze, reconsider, and re-evaluate the evidence tendered in the trial court as required by the law,” they stated.
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Elisha Ongoya, Duncan Okubasu and Paul Muite, who were acting for Waluke and Wakhungu, successfully told the court that the two were innocent and that the harsh hail sentence should be set aside.
The judges said that they were satisfied with the appeal by the two.
“Ultimately, we are satisfied that the appellants have made a case to warrant us allowing an appeal. The appeal is accordingly allowed, and the convictions and sentences imposed on the appellants are set aside. The appellants shall forthwith be set at liberty unless otherwise lawfully held,” they submitted.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
