The family of Sirisia MP John Waluke on Sunday, June 28, launched an appeal to Kenyans to support a funds drive to raise the Ksh727 million fine to be paid by the MP.
Convicted on fraud charges, the embattled lawmaker was on Thursday, June 25 sentenced to 52 years in prison or a fine of Ksh727 million.
One of his two wives, Roselyn Waluke, revealed that she had begun receiving donations from well-wishers who hoped to secure Waluke's freedom.
She further stated that the family would launch a mobile money Pay-bill number to make it easier for members of the public to contribute to Waluke.
“You are aware of our problem and I thank those who have stood with us during this challenging time and kindly continue praying for us.
"We are requesting for your financial assistance. Kindly channel your financial support to my number as we wait for an M-Pesa Paybill number,” she noted.
Waluke was convicted alongside Grace Wakhungu, with the duo accused of receiving Ksh297 million in a National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) tender scam.
Cliff Ombeta, one of Waluke's lawyers, was yet to respond to queries from Kenyans.co.ke by the time of publication on whether the defence planned to appeal the sentence.
The conviction of a sitting MP marked the most high-profile conviction secured so far by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in the publicized war against graft.
Senior Assistant DPP Alex Muteti, who prosecuted the case, had urged the court to apply a law requiring that a person convicted of graft pay three times the amount they had stolen.
Muteti wanted the court to fine Waluke and Wakhungu Ksh900 million each, and to sentence them to 10 years in prison.
When delivering her ruling, Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Juma of the Anti-Corruption Court noted that the punishment handed to the duo needed to be serious to deter similar fraud in the future, observing that they took advantage of a shortage of maize in Kenya.
