It was a sigh of relief for incarcerated Sirisia Member of Parliament (MP) John Waluke following his release from Industrial Area Remand Prison on Friday, November 18.
Waluke, while addressing the media, however, demanded a sit down with Azimio La Umoja party leader, Raila Odinga, who he accused of shortchanging him in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
The embattled MP wants to unravel and discuss in detail what Azimio planned for him while he was in jail after promising him that he would serve in the PSC.
He claimed that the decision by Azimio to lock him out of the committee after issuing him a nomination certificate added more woes to his tribulations.
“I still have the letter from the commission that was hand-delivered to me in jail by Azimio leaders, and I need an explanation of how things unfolded,” he told the media outside the prison’s gates.
Despite Waluke claiming that Azimio leaders ditched him at a time of need, Kakamega Deputy governor, Ayub Savula, contradicted.
Savula, on Friday, November 18, alleged that Raila Odinga, Martha Karua and former Cabinet Secretary(CS) Eugene Wamalwa secured his release.
Odinga was also vocal in demanding Waluke’s release after the MP was ordered to pay a Ksh1 billion fine or serve 67 years in jail for embezzling Ksh297 million in the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) maize fraud case.
“People charged with murder have been forgiven and approved to be cabinet secretaries while others with multi-billion corruption cases are being left to go free, but Waluke who was persecuted in a civil matter is still in prison. Release him!” Odinga posited.
Former Azimio running mate Karua also backed her boss’ call to have the jailed Sirisia MP set free.
Waluke, while addressing the media denied his involvement in the maize scandal claiming that the previous Jubilee regime wrongfully imprisoned him in a deliberate attempt to derail his progress.
“I did not steal or forge anything, to be honest, and everybody in the world should know that this case is purely political,” Waluke defended.
The disgruntled legislator expressed his intent to invite members of the press to expose the reasons behind his political witch hunt. He further claimed that the previous government explained why he was sent to jail.
Waluke’s allies, majorly from the Western Region received him at the prison gates, were angered by his tribulations citing that the government was wrong to provide amnesty for accused persons in power but condemn others to a torturous fate.
“We demand the case facing Waluke to be dismissed as is the trend with prominent government leaders who were persecuted by the previous administration.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE