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Sirisia MP

IEBC Clears MP Waluke To Defend His Sirisia Parliamentary Seat

by Pauline Waswa May 31, 2022

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.

May 31, 2022 0 comment

Politics

Sirisia MP John Waluke Speaks On Claims Of Not Defending His Seat Over Graft Case

by Pauline Waswa March 1, 2022

written by Pauline Waswa

Sirisia member of parliament John Waluke has rubbished the claims that he won’t be able to defend his seat following the ongoing case of him defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) saying that he is fully on the race and his competitors should not celebrate.

Speaking at a funeral in Lwandanyi ward, Waluke told his competitors to brace themselves for a tough fight saying that there is nothing that can hinder him from vying for he has been cleared to run for the parliamentary seat.

“I am aware that people are waiting for me to be jailed so that they can come forward to fight for my seat, am here to disappoint you because I will run the race,” he said.

This comes after the case of him and his business partner Grace Wakhungu was scheduled for May after the first hearing of an appeal happening on 15^th of February 2022.Waluke and Grace are alleged to have acquired Ksh 313 million from the National Cereals Produce Board through fraud.

He went further to ask the people of Sirisia to vote him in for another term saying that he is the one fit to run the constituency and asked the people to ignore the propaganda from his competitors.

He went ahead to campaign for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) saying that he is certain that it is going to form the next government saying that Raila is not fit to rule the country.

“We as members of UDA, we know that we are going to form the next government. Raila doesn’t have the capacity to run this country and that is why am asking you people to come together and support William Samoei Ruto,” he said

He assured the residents that if elected again he will use the opportunity to continue changing the outlook of Sirisia.

March 1, 2022 0 comment

Crime & Investigations

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

by Yahil Felix October 1, 2021

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.

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.”

October 1, 2021 0 comment

Crime & Investigations

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

by Mustafa Juma August 13, 2020

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.

August 13, 2020 0 comment

Crime & Investigations

Waluke’s Wife Begs Public to Help Her Raise Ksh 727m to Save Husband From Prison

by Mustafa Juma June 28, 2020

written by Mustafa Juma

Sirisia MP John Waluke’s wife Roselyn Waluke is now pleading for financial assistance from the public to raise the huge fine imposed by the court to keep the lawmaker from prison.

Waluke’s wife on Sunday June 28, 2020 urged well-wishers to channel their donations on phone even as the family races to get an M-Pesa Paybill number.

“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 0728732542 as we wait for an M-Pesa Paybill number,” said the MP’s wife.

Waluke is in prison following his sentencing on Thursday, June 25, when the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi fined him Sh727 million for the five counts he was convicted of in the Sh297 million National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) maize tender scandal.

Waluke was sentenced alongside his co-accused Grace Wakhungu by Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Juma who said that the offenses they committed were serious.

Waluke and his co-accused Grace Wakhungu will pay a combined fine of about Sh2 billion or serve 39 years in prison after they were found guilty of defrauding a State agency. The sentences will run consecutively.

They were whisked to prison to begin their jail term Thursday evening after the court declined to suspend their sentence.

Sentencing the two, Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Juma said the offence they committed was serious. She added that the two and their company took advantage of a dire situation, as Kenya faced a drought, to defraud the National Cereals and Produce Board.

June 28, 2020 0 comment

Crime & Investigations

Forgive ‘Vulnerable’ Waluke Because he Saved Moi in 1982 Coup, Lawyer Pleads With The Court

by Mustafa Juma June 25, 2020

written by Mustafa Juma

Lawyers representing Sirisia MP John Waluke in his sentence hearing have urged the Court to be sympathetic while sentencing the lawmaker.

Dunstan Omari, one of the lawyers representing Waluke has pleaded with the Chief Magistrate to be lenient with the former KDF soldiers, saying that he is not only a vulnerable person because of coronavirus but that he also saved the late president Daniel arap Moi in the 1982 coup.

Waluke, his lawyer said, was a career civil servant who had an impressive track record in the military where he rose from a corporal to a major in 1996, a testimony that he is a good person.

After his military career, he engaged in consultancy and road construction services in Western Kenya. He holds a degree from Mount Kenya University and a Masters from Kibabii University.

Waluke is being represented by advocates Evans Ondieki, Samson Nyamberi, Cliff Ombeta and Dunstan Omari while his co-accused Grace Wakhungu has Duncan Okubasu in her corner.

Waluke’s lawyers begged the court not to be swayed by the Sh297 million but at the amount that was in his possession.

The Sirisia MP John Waluke was on Monday June 22, 2020 found guilty by a Nairobi court, and was remanded pending his sentencing on Thursday June 25, 2020.

Waluke has been so vocal in spreading DP Ruto’s 2022 political gospel. In January 2019, the High Court declined to stop the prosecution of Waluke.

Waluke was charged with several counts of fraud alongside businessman Grace Wakhungu over a contract his company, Erad Supplies and General Contracts Ltd, won to supply 40,000 tonnes of maize in 2004.

The lawmaker and his co-accused had last filed an application seeking to block the case against them.

High Court judge Hedwig O’ngudi, however, declined to issue the orders noting that the application had not been made in a timely manner.

Last week, magistrate’s court in Nairobi extended bond terms Waluke but issued an arrest warrant for his co-accused.

The trial magistrate Elizabeth Osoro issued the arrest warrant after Grace Sarapay Wakhungu failed to turn up for the judgment.

At the same time the magistrate allowed the investigating officer in the case to verify a medical document presented before court by Wakhungu’s lawyer after a State prosecutor disputed its authenticity.

June 25, 2020 0 comment

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