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Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official Wilson Shollei is now a free man after paying the Sh7.5 million fine imposed on him by a Corruption court over his involvement in the Sh1.3 billion tender for supply of the 2013 General Election materials.

Shollei who started serving his seven-year jail term at the Nairobi Remand Prison over ‘Chickengate’ scandal was freed on Tuesday this week after managing to raise the fine imposed on him.

The convict had been found guilty together with former IEBC CEO James Oswago for abuse of office and willful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement when they procured electronic voter identification devices for the March 4, 2013 General Elections.

They were both sentenced to pay a fine of Sh7.5 million or in default serve seven years in jail each over corruption related charges.

Aggrieved by the conviction and sentence, Shollei filed an application before High Court Judge Esther Maina seeking bail pending appeal.

But yesterday, Shollei withdrew the application after paying the fine. 

His lawyer told the court that Shollei has since been released and now wishes to amend the application before court. As a consequence, Justice Maina allowed Shollei’s request for withdrawal of the application and allowed him to amend the appeal challenging the conviction and sentence.