Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari have been sentenced to prison after they were convicted on corruption charges relating to the Ksh588 million road tender.

Millimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki on Thursday, February 13 sentenced Waititu to twelve years in jail or a fine of Ksh53.5 million.

The court also barred him from holding any public office ten years.

Waititu’s wife on her part was sentenced to one year in prison or pay a fine of Ksh500,000.

On Wednesday, Justice Nzioki delivered the verdict which concluded a five-year legal battle investigated and prosecuted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Waititu was convicted alongside his wife, former Kiambu County Roads Chief Officer Luka Mwangi Wahinya, and businessman Charles Mbuthia Chege alongside his wife Beth Wangechi after being found guilty of a corruption scheme to defraud the county government of millions of shillings. 

The fraudulent tender worth Ksh588,198,328 which involved the upgrading of several roads in Kiambu, Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja and Ruiru was awarded by the county government in February 2018 to Testimony Enterprises Ltd.

Waititu Sentenced After Being Found Guilty in Ksh588 M Case

Millimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki delivering his ruling on Wednesday, February 12. PHOTO/Citizen Digital

While convicting Waititu, the magistrate noted that the former governor failed to honor the oath of office and to safeguard public funds.

Also Read: Former Governor Sentenced After Being Found Guilty in Ksh83 Million Case

He also dismissed the defense by the ex-County boss that the case was a political witch-hunt by the previous Jubilee administration over his political relationship with President William Ruto.

Waititu found guilty

Instead, the magistrate affirmed that the prosecution had presented a compelling case, supported by 32 witnesses and 129 pieces of documentary evidence, which established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

“Having painstakingly evaluated the evidence presented by the parties and on careful consideration of the submissions, I am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the prosecution has proved the charges against the accused persons,” Nzioki ruled.

Magistrate Nzioki found Waititu (the first accused) guilty of four counts for irregularly awarding the Ksh588 million tenders.

The judge determined that the first accused person unlawfully profited from public funds, including Ksh25.6 million obtained through a company associated with him.

While condemning the former Kiambu county boss to jail, the court found that Waititu himself had a direct personal interest in the tender process as evidence showed that he received Ksh25.6 million from Testimony Enterprises, channeled through various companies linked to him, including Saika Two Estate Developers, Bienvenue Delta Hotel Ltd, and Lake Naivasha Resort Ltd.

“Inevitable conclusion, the first accused person you are viable in count number one for conflict of interest by acquiring an indirect person of interest accumulated sum of Ksh25,624,500,” said the judge.

“Count one first accused person (Waititu) guilty, count two first accused person and Saika Two Estate Developers Limited guilty, count three first accused person and Saika Developers limited guilty.”