Former Nairobi town clerk John Gakuo, who has been serving a three-year jail term, has died at the Mbagathi hospital on Tuesday.

The former clerk was reportedly rushed to the hospital after developing health complications at the Industrial Area Prison.

Gakuo was in May 2018 sentenced to three years in jail for a cemetery scandal that rocked City Hall during his tenure.

Former Local Government Permanent Secretary Sammy Kirui, former Nairobi City Council legal secretary Mary Ng’ethe and chairman of the tender committee Alexander Musee were also sentenced to a similar term for the same offense.

Ms Ng’ethe and Mr Musee were found guilty of giving a misleading report purporting that the committee had agreed to buy the controversial 120-acre land in Mavoko town. They also used a false valuation report to award the tender.

The Sh283 million, Mavoko cemetery land scandal rocked City Hall between 2008 and 2009, where Sh238 million was paid irregularly. The land was meant to provide a new cemetery to replace the already full Lang’ata cemetery although it was later found unsuitable for use as a burial site.

Until he was jailed in May, Gakuo had been touted as a possible candidate for the Nairobi County Deputy Governor position, which fell vacant following the resignation of Polycarp Igathe in January.