Raila calls for immediate Waluke’s release as he throws jabs at the Judiciary
Raila calls for immediate Waluke’s release as he throws jabs at the Judiciary and DPP for dropping cases facing pro-government politicians.
Leader of the Azimio Raila Odinga has demanded both the dismissal of the lawsuit and the release of Sirisia lawmaker John Waluke on bond.
Raila asserted that the MP’s sentence of imprisonment or fine was unreasonable during the funeral service for Mama Philomena Barasa in Kakamega County.
Odinga said that Waluke was being treated unfairly due to his political affiliations and that the MP’s charges had been withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji.
He stated that Azimio politicians ought to be given the same opportunity to refute their accusations as Kenya Kwanza leaders who were involved in legal proceedings.
“People facing murder and graft charges are being forgiven. But on the Azimio side, there’s no justice. For example, Waluke is in jail for 67 years. It’s not fair.”
“How can you condemn a 55-year-old to 67 years imprisonment? That is akin to jailing Raila for 50 years, is that fair? We want Waluke to be granted bond immediately!” he posed.
“We want Waluke freed on bond and his case dismissed,” he added.
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Raila opined that the offence committed by the lawmaker did not warrant criminal proceedings but should have been heard at a civil court.
“He was charged for billing and receiving money for services he did not deliver and should have been asked to refund it instead. That case should be done away with in totality,” Odinga demanded.
In addition, Raila threw jabs at the judiciary over the vacation of charges leveled against Kenya Kwaza allies including some of the recently appointed cabinet secretaries.
He questioned the insufficient-evidence-to- prosecute narrative by the DPP which led to some of the cases being settled out of court.
Mr. Waluke is currently serving a 67-year jail term after he was convicted of defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) of Sh297 million.
He was jailed alongside his co-accused, Ms. Grace Wakhungu, who was locked up for 69 years after they failed to raise their court fines amounting to more than Sh2 billion after they were found guilty.
The two were paid the money for fake claims, in a botched deal to supply some 40,000 metric tonnes of maize to the government in 2004.
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