Sirisia MP John Walukhe Narrates 4-Month Experience in Jail

Sirisia MP John Walukhe has narrated his experience in prison following his release on Sh10 million cash bail.

Walukhe, who was found guilty of defrauding the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCBP) of over Sh300 million, was freed on Monday after spending four months in jail. 

He was granted bail together with his co-accused Grace Wakhungu pending the hearing and determination of an appealed filed at the High Court. Walukhe and Wakhungu were sentenced to 67 and 69 years in jail respectively with the option of paying a fine of Sh727 million and 707 million.

In an interview with Citizen TV on Friday, Walukhe described his stay behind bars as “very difficult.”

“It has been very hard, very difficult because you have changed from normal life to prison, even the food changes, it is tough,” he said.

He pointed out that on most days, he and other inmates remained idle as there was nothing to do.

“You see there was not a lot to do in jail, there is nothing to do, there is not enough room, it was a small compound, I used to sit alone, I did not mix or interact with anybody,” noted Walukhe.

Although his fellow inmates still referred to him as ‘mheshimiwa’, he says he was not given preferential treatment.

The MP also opened up about the ‘terrible’ prison diet, saying breakfast was served at 6 am, lunch at 10 am, and dinner at 2 pm. The foot consisted of vegetables, ugali, and porridge (breakfast).

“Food was just a sukuma wiki leaf (collard greens) with water, if you were lucky, you would get two leaves, it is cooked water, mixed with salt…it is like a soup, the ugali was not well done, but there was no option,” he said, adding that after supper they would be locked up again until the following day at 6 am.

Walukhe also revealed that there is a specific sleeping position (spoon position) where inmates faced one side until the “governor” (their prefect) blows the whistle to let allow them to face the opposite side. If you happen to go to the washroom, you would spend the rest of the night standing since your position would have been occupied.

Walukhe said he bailed out 57 inmates who were incarcerated after failing to raise amounts ranging from Sh1,000 to Sh4,000.