Former Nominated Senator Joy Gwendo was on Friday released on bail by the High Court on a Sh400,000 cash bail despite been sentenced for 2 years.
Lady justice Grace Ngenye granted Gwendo bail after she sought a revision of her sentence.
The ex-senator was sentenced to two years in jail by Anti-corruption court chief magistrate Douglas Ogoti last Friday. She was not given an option of a fine or a right to appeal for failing to pay Sh2.2 million belonging to a sacco.
It takes a judicial review for the ruling of the magistrates’ court to be overturned.
The judge made the ruling after Gwendo failed to honour a plea bargain pact she entered with the State to pay the money to the complainant.
Well her release was not taken lightly others feeling there was something fishy going as well as demanding for clear answers.
Here are some twitter reactions:
I thought senator Joy Gwendo was sentenced to jail “with no option for bail”! Then what the fuck just happened? Why has she been released on a 400,000 cash bail? Does it mean that only the poor should go to jail but the corrupt rich will always buy their freedom? Pathetic!
— juma G. ?? (@jumaf3) December 14, 2018
Senator Joy Gwendo was sentenced for 2 years in jail without fine option, she has managed to bribe one judge and finally today she is out of Langata prison. As i said ” In Kenya you are innocent until proven bankrupt “.
— PERATO_N SENIOR (@PeratoN_Senior) December 14, 2018
The release of Ex senator Joy gwendo is a clear indication that we are losing war against corruption.
— Akino (@danielakino12) December 14, 2018
Senator Joy Gwendo has been released on bail although she was jailed without the option of a fine… I don’t need to be a lawyer to know that something is irregular here.
— Mainado (@mainado) December 14, 2018
What the courts have done to Senator Joy Gwendo is exactly what they denied the late Gakuo, being a woman can sometimes be an advantage, a rotten judiciary, @UKenyatta you are a lone in the fight against graft. @dkmaraga
— DENNIS RAPENDA (@Rapendaraps) December 14, 2018
How Former Senator Joy Gwendo has been released still remains a mystery ! I thought @ODPP_KE secured a conviction through a plea bargain as to that regard. Has the criminal justice system changed? @matundura78
— Kioko Nzyimi (@KiokoNzyimi) December 14, 2018
John Gakuo, a man who served Nairobi with passion died in prison, a similar sentence was given to former senator Joy Gwendo but somehow she has been given cash bail which Gakuo was denied. Being a man.
— Son of a Teacher (@Platuex) December 14, 2018