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Politics

IEBC Clears MP Waluke To Defend His Sirisia Parliamentary Seat

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

Sirisia MP John Koyi Waluke has been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissions (IEBC) to defend his seat despite the ongoing graft case.

Waluke was in 2020 convicted for acquiring Ksh 313 million through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) fraud.

Just recently, Waluke’s name had appeared on the list of the aspirants who had been blacklisted by EACC because of integrity questions but he was on Tuesday May 31, 2022 cleared to seek reelection in his constituency.

He expressed his joy noting that the constitution of Kenya is supreme and he is protected by it saying that there was no one eligible to deny him a chance to vie for any seat in the country.

“I am very happy to have been cleared and I really appreciate the IEBC for standing firm to prove that indeed they are independent and they have done their work independently. Today is the day to show everybody in the country that I have been cleared and to make it clear to my opponents that am 100% in the race,” he said.

Waluke went ahead to ask the residents of Sirisia, Kenyans at large and also the political leaders and aspirants to ensure they observe peace during this campaign period, asking the youths to refuse being lured onto violence by politicians to cause havoc and destruction in the society.

Waluke went ahead to ask the residents for cooperation in building the constituency saying that he will work closely with the incoming president to ensure that Sirisia benefits largely in its government if reelected.

He also drummed up support for the AZIMIO presidential candidate Raila Amollo Odinga saying that he is the one forming the next government.

He asked the residents to be keen to protect their votes saying that they should not vote for the people that they are sure they cannot win.

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Politics

Jubilee Forced To Address MP John Waluke’s Fate Ahead Of August Polls

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

The ruling Jubilee party has come out to address concerns over Sirisia MP John Waluke’s fate as the country heads to August general elections.

The lawmaker is facing a corruption case in court and there were rumors that he has not been cleared by his party to defend his seat in August over the graft case.

The Jubilee party through its Bungoma branch county office manager Edward Lubakaya has, however, rubbished the rumors saying that Waluke will be on the ballot.

While issuing the certificates to Jubilee aspirants at the party’s office in Kanduyi, Lubakaya said that Waluke was cleared and already has the certificate and also serving as the Jubilee party chairman in Bungoma county.

He went ahead to tell Waluke’s opponents to brace themselves for a tough fight.

Waluke was in June 2020 convicted of fraud involving Ksh.313 million in shady maize dealings with the National Cereals Produce Board (NCPB) which led to many concluding that he won’t be cleared to defend his seat on 9th of August 2022

Lubakaya further said Jubilee party in Bungoma county will throw its weight behind governor Wycliffe Wangamati’s gubernatorial bid since they all fall under AZIMIO One Kenya coalition and so it won’t have a candidate at that position.

“I want to make it clear that we as Jubilee party Bungoma county, we are going to support governor Wycliffe Wangamati, we won’t have a candidate on that level because we will gang behind Wangamati to see him reelected,” he said

One of the aspirants Dr Ferdinand Nyongesa who is seeking to unseat the DAP-K party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi of Kanduyi Constituency as the Member of Parliament expressed his confidence in Jubilee party saying that he is now ready to face his competitors fully.

“My supporters should now stop worrying and listening to  rumors that I have stepped down. I am in the race and let my competitors start parking to clear the space because I am coming with a different style,” he said.

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Crime & Investigations

MPs Didmus Barasa, Waluke Face Arrest Over Alleged Impersonation of KDF Officers

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Sirisia MP John Waluke and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa are facing a possible arrest and prosecution for allegedly masquerading as former senior officers at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has written to the National Assembly, warning the lawmakers against misuse and misinterpreting of military titles.

Waluke has been referring to himself as a Major (rt) while Didmus refers to himself as a Captain.

The MPs who are Deputy President William Ruto’s foot solidiers in Western Kenya have now been warned that the continued use of the titles is criminal under the Penal Code and Leadership and Integrity Act.

  • Sirisia MP John Waluke. PHOTO/COURTESY

EACC boss Twalib Mbarak says that his office had written to Parliament and the military after noting that the two lawmakers left the military as private soldiers and not as holders of the titles they purported to have held at the time of their discharge from service.

Mbarak noted that this is one of the unfortunate cases of senior State officials impersonating as former senior military officers yet they never attained the titles.

Barasa who is facing other charges relating to fraud and assault told Parliament that he served at Kenya Armed Forces as a Captain attached to the technical wing in the years 2001 and 2007.

An investigation done by EACC has however, revealed that Barasa only served for one year before he was fired for absenteeism and forgery.

According to sources, Barasa was successfully recruited to the military in October 2007 and completed his training in May 2008.

He then proceeded to the Kenya Defense Technical College in Nakuru. It was after he absconded duty for many days without permission, an offense under the military laws, that he was arrested in 2009 and subsequently fired.

The letter sent to the MP with a copy to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Clerk Michael Sialai and Chief of Defense Forces General Robert Kibochi warned Barasa against giving false information and misleading the public.

On the Parliament’s official website, he is identified as a former Kenya Air Force Captain who served in the military for six years.

Waluke on the other hand joined the military on April 1980, and was deployed to the 76 Armored Reece Battalion in Gilgil where he worked as a tank loader and later a driver at the headquarters in Nairobi.

The MP served for 14 years and attained the rank of Senior Private (SPTE) but left in May 1994 “Upon approval of your request to be discharged on compassionate grounds.”

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Politics

VIDEO:MP John Waluke Brings Parliament to a Standstill as he Bounces Back

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Business at the National Assembly was on Thursday October 1, 2020 halted for a few minutes after the entry of Sirisia MP John Waluke.

 who was in custody for almost four months was last week released on a cash bail of Sh10 million pending appeal of his jail sentence in a multi-million shilling corruption case.

His entry in the National Assembly interrupted the business of the House as colleagues jubilantly welcomed him.

Nominated MP David Sankok was forced to apologise for clapping his hands loudly as he welcomed the lawmaker who was appearing in public for the first time since he was released.

“We don’t clap our hands; you know how we do it. Let us have decorum in the House,” said Jessica Mbalu who was chairing the session.

“We are colleagues, Speaker you know I don’t have legs so I must use the hands and mouth,” Sankok said.

Waluke on his part thanked Kenyans who stood by him during his lowest moment.

He said that he wanted the nation to know that he did not steal anything, and that he was not corrupt.

He said that he learnt that there are many prisoners who have been jailed for the wrongs they did not do.

Justice Onyiego granted Waluke and his co-accused Grace Wakhungu Sh10 million and Sh20 million bail  respectively, pending hearing and determination of their appeal.

The judge also gave them an alternative of depositing bonds of Sh20 million and Sh30 million respectively with sureties.

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)  has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge the release of the two on bond.

The DPP has filed a notice of appeal indicating that he is dissatisfied with the decision made by Justice John Onyiego on September 30.

“Take notice that the DPP, being dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court intends to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision in which the court released each of the appellants on bail pending their appeal,” reads the notice.

The notice was also served to the lawyers of the two convicts.

The two, who are also directors of Erad Supplies Ltd, were convicted in June by the Anti-Corruption Court for theft of Sh297 million from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

The trial court also imposed a combined fine of Sh2 billion. In default, Wakhungu was handed a 39-year sentence while waluke was slapped with a 34-year sentence.

But they challenged their conviction and sentence and sought to be released on bail pending the determination of appeal.

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Crime & Investigations

Drama as Waluke’s Two Lawyers Clash During Bail Hearing, Thrown Out of Court

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Drama ensued on Thursday August 13, 2020 after two lawyers representing Sirisia MP John Waluke clashed in Court during his bail hearing.

This forced the judge to adjourn Waluke’s bail hearing to Monday August 17, after the lawyers clashed in court over who was better placed to represent the jailed lawmaker.

Waluke, who was sentenced to 67 years in jail over Ksh 300 million maize scandal, followed the cases virtually from Industrial Area Prison.

His lawyers, Elijah Ongoya and Evans Ondieki, differed on who the MP had directed to argue the bail hearing in court.

“I was appointed by Waluke himself. That is why I have put a short supplementary submission through more documents to Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji,” Ondieki stated while appearing before Justice John Onyiego.

On the other hand, Ongoya argued that he was not aware of the new documents tabled before DPP, adding that Waluke directed him to argue the MP’s case too.

Ongoya asked the court to disregard the new documents furnished by lawyer Ondieki. The attorney added that Waluke was in a position that did not call for more frustrations of the case.

“I am embarrassed at the development because I had strict instructions to represent Waluke. He is keen to have the court hear and determine the application,” Ongoya stated.

Ondieki’s efforts to represent Waluke backfired after the court was informed that Waluke was to be represented by Ongoya and another attorney, Sam Nyaberi. 

The judge did not listen to either party and threw them out of court to sort their confusion.

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