Former Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo Handed Three-Year Prison Term in Sh283 Million Mavoko Cemetery Scandal

Former Nairobi City Council Town Clerk John Gakuo has been handed a three-year prison term after he was found guilty of graft charges in cemetery land scandal.

Gakuo was sentenced alongside former Local Government Permanent Secretary Sammy Kirui, ex-city legal secretary Mary Ng’ethe and Alexander Musee. The four were found guilty of abuse of office and failure to comply with procurement laws in the purchase of Sh283 million Mavoko Cemetery land.

Gakuo and Kirui were sentenced to three years in jail and a Sh1 million fine each, while Ms Ngethe and Musee were handed three-year prison term each.

In addition, Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogot ordered Ms Ngethe to pay a fine of Sh52 million, while Musee was directed to pay a fine of Sh32 million. Failure to pay the fine will see their jail sentences extended by one year for each.

In the cemetery scandal, taxpayers cash was used to buy a 120-acre piece of land in Mavoko township, which was declared unsuitable for graves. The four have 14 days to appeal the verdict.