Wario a Free Man in the Rio Saga after Paying Sh3.6m fine, Hours after Conviction

Magistrate Elizabeth Juma on Thursday sentenced Wario after he was found guilty of abusing his office over the Rio Olympics games fiasco.

Meanwhile, former Olympics team leader and ex-Nock official, Stephen Soi, has been fined Sh105 million, or he is to serve 12 years in prison in default.

Soi sought to have his sentence and fine suspended pending appeal but the court declined.

Soi faced three counts of abuse of office and three counts of willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public funds.

Juma said she took into account all accused persons are first-time offenders. The decision by Wario to send three undeserving people to Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games is what made the court find him guilty of abuse of office on Wednesday.

Wario added three people to the Team Kenya list to travel, yet they were not on the accreditation list.

The magistrate said she also took into account that by the time Wario instructed some witnesses to be included in Team Kenya there was no negative publicity. It only emerged later when they were in Rio.

"Wario was in attendance and chaired some of the steering committee meetings. Nothing stopped him from having the names of the three additional people mentioned in that meeting," she said.

Juma said Wario arbitrarily forced the three to be included after obtaining Brazilian visas which were contrary to Olympic accreditation.

"The court is called upon not only to give a retribution sentence but also a restorative sentence to recover the monies," she said.