Seven suspects, Juma Matsanza, Howard Lukadilu, Oscar Onyango, Ayub Tuvaka, Arlington Shikuku, Jackline Nanjala and Reuben Cheruiyot have been sentenced to one and half years in jail or pay a fine of Ksh.300,000 each after being found guilty of corruption charges over the Bungoma wheelbarrow scandal.
Kakamega Senior Principal Magistrate Thomas Muraguri, on behalf of Senior Magistrate Bildard Ochieng sentenced the former members of the county tendering committee to their individual jail terms for looting public funds and lying to Kenyans that they bought wheelbarrows worth unimaginable amounts.
In 2015, the seven members colluded and procured 9 “non-carcinogenic” wheelbarrows at a cost of Ksh.109, 320 each, which caused national outrage and had many pointing fingers to the county government for misusing funds in things that will never benefit residents.
However, Juma Matsanza, one of the suspects, was fined Ksh. 400, 000 or a two year jail term as he was the Accounting Officer in the Finance Department when the incidence happened.
It should be remembered that this incidence happened when Ken Lusake was the Governor of Bungoma County. He even assured Kenyans that the wheelbarrows were “non-carcinogenic.” Ken Lusaka is now the Senate Speaker.