Ex-Senator Joy Gwendo Jailed For Two Years Over Fraud

Former nominated Senator Joy Gwendo has been slapped with two and half year jail term for hoodwinking the court and fraud.

Ms Gwendo has been facing a fraud case for issuing a cheque of Ksh2.2 million that bounced, belonging to  Kisumu East Cotton Growers Cooperative Society between October and December 2016.

In August,  Gwendo pleaded guilty to abuse of office charges and theft of Kshh2.2 million.

She consequently entered into a plea bargain with DPP Noordin Haji to pay the full amount of of Ksh3 million in four installments, but failed.

The court found her dishonest, and ordered that she be jailed without the option of a fine because of ‘hoodwinking the court.’

She was also denied the right of appeal with the court saying it had considered the mitigation.

Read: Former NHIF CEO Simeon Kirgotty Arrested Over Ksh1.5 Billion Graft Scandal

“It is noteworthy that she executed a plea bargaining agreement yet she was sure that she could not honour the same. She was hoodwinking the court and therefore lied to the court,” the judge ruled.

“On the 23rd day of October 2016 at Chiga Parish in Kisumu East within Kisumu County used her position as a State officer to confer herself Ksh2,226,800 the property of Kisumu East Cotton Growers Cooperative Society through Kivali Development Initiative,” the charge sheet reads.