Nairobi, KENYA: Flamboyant Kisii politician Don Bosco Gichana is now a free man.
Gichana arrived in the country on Tuesday after spending 5 years in jail in Arusha.
Gichana was sentenced to a 5-year imprisonment two weeks ago and a fine of sh 13.7 million after he pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit an offense of money laundering.
Having been in custody for five years, the court ruled that Mr. Gichana would be set free once he pays his fine.
Family and friends have been raising funds to clear the fine for the flamboyant politician.
Efforts by several leaders including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka who in 2016 lead a delegation to Tanzania to seek his release did not bear any fruit.
During his heydays, the youthful politician dined with the high and mighty in Kenya.
During the 2007 election campaigns, Gichana imported a red hummer vehicle and donated it to Raila Odinga who was at the time eyeing the presidency on an Orange Democratic Movement party ticket.
Gichana who was eyeing the Kitutu Chache parliamentary seat on a Peoples Democratic Party ticket also founded the Vijana na Raila which campaigned for Odinga all over the country.
However, during the runup to the 2013 elections, Gichana changed tune and instead backed Deputy President William Ruto.
Gichana was been arrested a few days after the 2013 polls at the Namanga border on his way from Arusha where he had gone to visit his co-accused friend Arusha based lawyer Median Mwale at the Arusha prison.
However, Gichana’s ordeal at the hands of Tanzanian authorities has been marred by several dramatic re-arrests immediately after being acquitted and being recharged with the same offenses opening a new round of prosecutions.
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