Sirisia MP John Waluke loses appeal in fraud case, to serve 57 years in jail or pay Sh1b fine

Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke. [File, Standard]

Sirisia Member of Parliament (MP) John Waluke has been ordered to pay Sh1 billion fine or serve 57 years in jail for fraud.

Waluke, who had appealed against a magistrate's court ruling that slapped him with the heavy sentences, lost the appeal before the High Court on Thursday, October 6.

Waluke was, in June 2020, found guilty of defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Sh297 million.

Justice Esther Maina said in her ruling on Thursday that the prosecution proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Waluke took part in the NCPB fraud.

The MP, who was out on appeal, secured re-election in the August 9, 2022 Sirisia parliamentary polls.

The lawmaker ran on Jubilee Party ticket, getting 16,461 votes against Ford-Kenya candidate Nasiuma Wafula's 8,811 votes.

If unsatisfied with the High Court verdict, the lawmaker can challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal within 14 days.

If Waluke fails to appeal against the decision, then he'll lose his parliamentary seat because he'd have been jailed for more than six months.