A Jubilee MP Kanini Kega ,was on Wednesday turned away from the King’ong’o prison after he visited the facility carrying nyama choma.
Kieni MP Kanini Kega had sought to share the delicious meal with three former government officials who have been convicted of corruption.
However, Kega’s bag of goodies was not well received by the prison officers who reminded him that the prisoners were guests of the state who did not qualify for luxurious gifts.
“The officers in charge of the prison told me that they provide adequate and balanced food to the inmates. There was no need for the gift hamper of nyama choma,” the legislator as quoted byNairobiNews.
However, he was given the opportunity to see the three convicts – John Maina, Martin Wamwea, and Simon Wachira – who he termed as his personal friends.
“I came to encourage them and see how they are coping. They are doing well,” he added.
He would, however, not comment on whether their conviction was a positive step in the fight against corruption but he noted that their case was being appealed.
The prisoners are senior executives in the Nyeri County Government who were on Monday charged for irregularly issuing a Sh3.7 Million contract to a private company.
They were given the option of paying a cumulative fine of Sh24 Million or spend 3 years in jail. As of Wednesday, they had not managed to raise the amount.
Senior Prison Officer Patrick Arandu said that the inmates had suffered shock but were adapting well to the new environment, adding that they were not receiving special treatment.
“They are being treated like any other inmate in our custody. They are together with other inmates serving a short-term sentence,” he noted.
It is not clear what happened to the nyama choma given that a photo captured while the legislator was leaving the prison showed that he did not have his gift hamper.
Kieni MP Kanini Kega (left) is escorted outside the King’ong’o Prison
