Former nominated senator Joy Gwendo will be forced to part with Sh 660000 or a jail term of one year after the High Court reviewed her sentence. The former senator had earlier been sentenced to two years in prison on December 7, 2018 to a two-year jail term after she was found guilty of abuse of office and fraud.
In setting aside, the sentence, Justice Onyiego said Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti erred by failing to give Gwendo a fine option. Now the former TNA nominated senator has been ordered to pay Sh600,000 fine or serve one-year jail.
Mr Ogoti sentenced the former lawmaker to two years in jail after finding her guilty of fraud and abuse of office. She had been charged with five counts, including abuse of office, issuing bad cheques and stealing.
In a plea agreement, Ms Gwendo agreed to pay the money in four installments. Further, she pleaded guilty to abuse of office but the State dropped charges of stealing and issuing bad cheques. Ms Gwendo was accused of forging a Sh200,000 cheque drawn from a Kenya Commercial Bank account in favor of Kivuli Development Initiative and signed by Mr Willy Kipkorior Bett.