Ex-Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka sentenced to two years in prison

Former Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka Mwangi (left) and his co-accused when he appeared before Nakuru chief magistrate court to answer to failure to comply with procurement laws and abuse of office charges of July 27, 2018. (Photo: ODPP)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Thursday, March 20, 2025

The charges stem from actions taken on April 30, 2014, when both individuals, in their official capacities, unlawfully procured the services of M/s TAHAL Consulting Engineers Limited without a proper procurement plan for the 2013/2014 financial year.

Daniel Waithaka Mwangi, former Governor of Nyandarua County, has been handed a two-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of procurement irregularities.

Chief Magistrate Hezekiah Keago ruled that the former governor had an option of paying a fine of Sh1 million.

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The ruling was issued at the Nyahururu Anti-Corruption Courts on Thursday, where Waithaka stood trial alongside Grace Wanjiru Gitonga, the former County Executive Committee Member for Water, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources.

Both Waithaka and Gitonga were sentenced under charges related to breaches of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2006. Waithaka received a two-year sentence or a fine of Sh500,000 for failing to comply with procurement laws.

He was also sentenced to another two years or Sh500,000 for abuse of office, with the Chief Magistrate, Hezekiah Keago, ruling that both sentences would run concurrently if Waithaka opted to pay the fines.

Similarly, Gitonga was sentenced to two years or Sh500,000 for engaging in a project without proper planning and another two years or Sh500,000 for failing to follow procurement laws.

The charges stem from actions taken on April 30, 2014, when both individuals, in their official capacities, unlawfully procured the services of M/s TAHAL Consulting Engineers Limited without a proper procurement plan for the 2013/2014 financial year.

Waithaka further compounded the situation by improperly awarding the company a contract for the development of the County Water Master Plan and the design review of the Ol Kalou Town Sewerage System, all without the necessary procurement procedures in place.

The case has attracted the public’s attention as Waithaka becomes the third governor in the past two years to be convicted on corruption-related charges.

He joins the ranks of former Samburu County Governor Moses Lenolkulaal and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, both of whom also faced similar charges.