Former Senator Joy Gwendo charged with stealing millions, forging cheques

Former Nominated Senator Joy Gwendo was Monday morning arraigned in court and charged with stealing Ksh.2.2 million belonging to Kisumu East Cotton Growers Cooperative Society.

Ms Gwendo, who is also facing four other charges among them abuse of office, is accused that on 23rd October, 2016 at Chiga Parish in Kisumu East, she used her position as a state officer to award herself Ksh.2.2million, property of the cooperative society through Kivuli Development Initiatives account.

She is also facing two other counts of issuing bad cheques to Kisumu East Cotton Growers Cooperative Society.

Gwendo is alleged to have issued two cheques amounting to Ksh.1.2 million to the society on 5th December 2016, knowing that her account had insufficient funds.

She is further accused of forging a cheque of Ksh.200,000.

It’s alleged that on 23rd October 2016 at the said parish, with intent to defraud the cooperative society, she forged the cheque purporting to have been drawn in favour of Kivuli Development Initiative by one Willy Kipkorir Bett.

She denied the charges before anti-corruption magistrate Lawrence Mugambi, who released her on a cash bail of Ksh.300,000.

The case will be mentioned on 8th February, 2018.