Residents of Sirisia Constituency, in Bungoma County on Wednesday, October 19 took to the streets in protest of the imprisonment of their Member of Parliament John Waluke.
The infuriated residents accused the government of witch hunting Waluke because of his political affiliation.
“Our MP should not be harassed by the new government. Sirisia people gave 70% votes to this government. Our MP is not a thief, he was a businessperson, the case is a witch hunt.” They said.
Moreover, Sirisia residents staged their demonstration and barricaded the Lwakhakha-Sirisia Road with stones.
MP Waluke who was accused of defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) of Ksh.313 million, was sentenced to a 67-year jail term by the High Court on October 6.
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Likewise, his co-accused Grace Wakhungu, was taken into custody immediately after the ruling and is presently detained at the Lang’ata Women’s Prison.
Furthermore, the High Court Judge Esther Maina noted that the charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and the sentence is not excessive because it is within the law.
The Sirisia MP also challenged his conviction, claiming that it was based on an incorrect charge sheet. According to Waluke, critical witnesses were never called to testify in the two-year-old case.
He further alleged that the anti-corruption court failed the impartiality and independence test, claiming that politics played a role in the conviction and sentencing.
Nonetheless, the Sirisia Member of Parliament is in his third term after being re-elected in the August General Election.
