Former PS for local government Sammy Kirui and former Nairobi town clerk John Gakuo were jailed for 3 years each for playing key roles in the Sh283 million Mavoko cemetery land scam.
The two will also be required to pay a fine of Sh1 million each as they were found to be in contravention of procurement laws and abuse of office willingly.
Also implicated in the case are Mary Ng’ethe, a former Nairobi city council Legal secretary and Alexander Musee, a former official who will pay fines of Sh52 million and Sh32 million respectively or serve 3 years in prison each.
Well, the news was received by Kenyans on Twitter with mixed reactions with the majority expressing their support for the move while others termed it an exercise in futility.
Here is what some of them had to say:
Mugo John Davis tweeted: “Let us hope that they actually go to jail.”
“These are good baby steps but what are we doing to recover the lost monies? Also the jail sentences and fines are not punitive enough!” Ezekiel Olande tweeted.
“At least some good news. But their properties and their relatives' properties should have been repossessed to recover the losses. And more life in jail,” tweeted John Deeh
“At least it's a good start for a society that has never been known to punish corruption,” Gakobo tweeted
“At last, some action against corruption but I'm afraid the president may give decree releasing "petty thieves". Tweeted Kiura Mumbura
Others saw the move as the same old futile moves pulled by the courts and nothing new will come from it.
“283 million minus 1m each=281million hapo tumecheswa,” said Mtukufu Lion, a user.
“We all know they won't spend a single night in jail,” user The Chosen One tweeted.
“A profit of 281 Million and three years in jail that not bad,” Parkside road safety tweeted.