Court to sentence MP, ex-CS’s mother today over Sh313m maize fraud

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 25 Jun, 2020 10:04 | < 1 min read
John Waluke
Sirisia MP John Waluke and Grace Wakhungu in a Nairobi court on June 22, 2020. PHOTO | SHEILA MUTUA
Sirisia MP John Waluke and Grace Wakhungu in a Nairobi court on June 22, 2020. PHOTO | SHEILA MUTUA

Sirisia MP John Waluke and businesswoman Grace Sarapya Wakhungu are set to be handed their sentences today after they were convicted of fraud earlier this week.

The two were found guilty for fraudulently receiving Sh313 million from the National Cereals and Produce Board.

Following their conviction by a Nairobi court on Monday, June 22, the two were remanded at Kileleshwa Police Station to await their sentencing.

In the case, the prosecution proved that the duo acquired money by false pretenses from the state agency.

https://twitter.com/ODPP_KE/status/1276037040661020672

Should Waluke be sentenced to more than six months in jail, he risks losing his job as a Member of Parliament.

Waluke and the businesswoman were shareholders of Erad Supplies & General Contractors Ltd, a firm that received Sh313 million from the NCPB after accusing the cereals board of breaching a contract in 2004.

The prosecution charged them with presenting a false invoice of Sh115,072,725 on February 24, 2009, as evidence in the arbitration dispute between their firm and the NCPB.

While they had won a tender to supply 40, 000 metric tonnes of maize to the NCPB, the tender was cancelled over lack of funds.

Nonetheless, the presented the invoice to support the cost of storage of the 40,000 metric tonnes fo maize, a cost allegedly incurred by a South African firm. For that, the firm received Sh13,364,671 in June 2013.

Further, the prosecution accused them of having obtained Sh297,386,505 on March 19, 2013, for loss of profit and interest incurred by the South African firm, Chelsea Freight.

Besides, the firm was also accused of obtaining Sh2,413,113 on the last count.

But the two defended the payment, saying it was an arbitration award given in their favour.