By Diana Wenwa
Former Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu faced the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on 16th May, against multiple charges.
The charges included; conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and willful failure to comply with procurement laws.
The charges stem from incidents dating back to 2019 when Waititu, along with his wife Susan Wangari, Testimony Enterprises, its directors, and others not present in court, were accused of irregularly awarding a KSh 588,198,328 road tender in Kiambu County.
“Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari, Testimony Enterprises, its directors and others not before court were in 2019 charged over the irregular award of KSh. 588,198,328 road tender in Kiambu County,” wrote the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions.
Waititu, as the director of Saika Two Estate Developers Limited, allegedly received KSh 18,410,500 from Testimony Enterprises Ltd between July 2, 2018, and March 13, 2019.
The prosecution argued that he was fully aware that this amount was obtained through corrupt means from the Kiambu County Government.
During his defence, Waititu vehemently denied the charges, claiming they were false and politically motivated.
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“The former Governor told the court that all the charges levelled against him were untrue and that they were politically instigated,” stated the ODPP.
The prosecution, led by Ms. Faith Mwila and Ms. Lindah Mwamburi, extensively questioned Waititu regarding his involvement in receiving the funds and his failure to provide supporting documents for his defence.
They pressed him to provide explanations for the transactions and his alleged involvement in the corruption scheme.
Waititu’s tenure as governor was marred by various controversies and allegations, ultimately resulting in his impeachment by the Kiambu County Assembly in 2020.
The Senate upheld his impeachment, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s ongoing battle against corruption in public office.
The case is set to be mentioned again on June 19, 2024, with further hearings scheduled for August 5, 2024.