Grace Wakhungu, a business associate of Sirisia MP John Waluke has been released on a cash bail of Ksh 20 million pending an appeal of her 67-year jail sentence in a multimillion-shilling corruption case.
In a ruling delivered by Court of Appeal judges Asike Makhandia, Grace Ngenye and John Mativo, the court allowed Wakhungu's application to be released on bail pending the hearing of her appeal against the jail term imposed by the anti-corruption court.
The judges ordered her release after the DPP conceded to the bail application saying the matter is similar to that of her co-accused Waluke.
Consequently, the court ordered that Wakhungu be released on her previous cash bail of Ksh20 million or a bond of Ksh 30 million with one surety of a similar amount pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
"Since the application for bail has not been opposed by the state, the applicant is released on the bail terms similar to those imposed by the High Court," ruled the three-judge bench.
Wakhungu, who is still in prison, was sentenced to 69 years in jail after failing to pay close to a Ksh1 billion fine imposed on her for her part in the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) scandal in 2014.
She was sent back to prison on October 6th this year after the High Court declined her bid to quash the conviction and sentence for forgery and fraudulently acquiring Ksh 297 million from the NCPB together with MP Waluke who has been also released on Ksh 10 million cash bail pending the determination of the appeal. Her business associate Waluke was separately handed a jail term of 67 years.
Wakhungu is a younger sister to the former vice president Moody Awori and was found guilty of receiving Ksh40 million as part of the Ksh297 million paid out for supplying air to the NCPB.
In her appeal, Wakhungu through Lawyer Paul Muite says that she is dissatisfied with the said decision of the High court to uphold her sentence and conviction adding that her appeal is arguable with high chances of success and if bail is not granted at this stage, the appeal will be rendered nugatory. She seeks to overturn the entire decision by the High court judge Esther Maina and the trial court.
"Wakhungu be released on bail or bond pending the hearing and determination of her appeal against the judgment and order of the High court in Nairobi delivered on October 6, 2022," Lawyer Muite says.
Muite said that Wakhungu is 82 years old and suffers from various life-threatening illnesses and conditions adding that she is currently on life support medication while at Lang'ata Women's Prison.
"I believe that at her age, Wakhungu is vulnerable to geriatric diseases and conditions, let alone to developing and succumbing to chronic illnesses because of her underlying medical condition, diabetes," says Lawyer Muite.
He adds that on October 13, this year, Wakhungu was taken ill while in prison and after a medical review, she was admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital not only for blood pressure stabilization but also, for admission for multiple-specialty review by orthopedic surgeon, psychiatric team, diabetologist for specialized investigations
