Ex-nominated Senator Joy Gwendo jailed for two years

Former nominated Senator Joy Gwendo has been sentenced to a two-year jail term after she was found guilty of abuse of office and fraud.

On Friday, the court ordered that she be jailed without the option of a fine because of ‘hoodwinking the court.’

“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 Ksh.2,226,800 the property of Kisumu East Cotton Growers Cooperative Society through Kivali Development Initiative,” the charge sheet reads.

The court found that the accused was dishonest.

On Counts 3 and 4 where she was charged with issuing a bad cheque; one amounting to Ksh.300,000 and another of Ksh.950,000, Gwendo was sentenced to six months in prison.

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

“..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.

In her mitigation, Gwendo had told the court that she was remorseful and this was the reason why she opted to do the plea bargaining.

She added that she met her part of the bargain and showed willingness to meet the terms of the plea bargain.

Gwendo further asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence of all circumstances.