A Nairobi court yesterday deferred the sentencing of Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama in a Sh60 million land fraud case to June 30.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Victor Wakumile postponed the sentencing of the MP following the absence of one of his co-accused, former Nakuru Lands Registrar Charles Birundu, who was said to be unwell.

Sentence delivery

Yesterday, Wakumile was expected to deliver the sentence against Arama, Birundu, lawyer Kennedy Onkoba and Daniel Kimori Nyatika after the court on March 30 found them guilty on multiple corruption charges.

Defense lawyers led by George Kimani urged the court to defer the sentencing on grounds that Birundu was unwell and his doctor Julius Ong’eto had recommended a five days of rest.

“My client Charles Birundu is unwell as he suffers from diabetes and needs rest. For those reasons, my client is not in court hence we pray the session for sentencing be deferred until my client recovers and presents himself in court as this is a criminal proceeding where the personal presence is paramount,” said the lawyer.

In this case, the MP and his co-accused were found guilty of conspiring to grab a parcel of land valued at Sh60 million.