Waititu, wife found guilty of looting Sh588 million from Kiambu County government
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki of the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court acquitted the accused of charges of money laundering.
Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari, and their business associate Charles Mbuthia have been found guilty of looting Sh588 million from the county government.
Waititu and his co-accused, including several companies, were charged with fraud, conflict of interest, dealing with suspect property, money laundering, and abuse of office. These charges arose from the alleged fraudulent awarding of tenders to a company owned by his family.
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Others convicted include Beth Mburu, Luka Mwangi Wahiny, Zacharia Njenga, Anselm Gachukia, and Samuel Mugo.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki of the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court found the convicts guilty of all charges except those related to money laundering.
Waititu was found guilty of conflict of interest, contrary to section 42(3) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA) of 2003.
He was convicted for the offence of knowingly acquiring indirect private interests by receiving Sh25,624,500 in respect of payments made to a company he jointly owns with his wife, Susan.
Nzioki stated that the testimony of 32 witnesses and documentary evidence proved that the money was disbursed to him as a direct consequence of the awarding of the tender to Testimony Enterprises.
He committed the offence between July 13, 2018, and March 13, 2019, during which time his company received payments from the county government while he was governor.
The former governor was also found guilty of dealing with suspect property in contravention of ACECA in relation to Sh12,410,500 paid to his company, Saika Two Estate Development Limited, by Kiambu County while having reason to believe the amount was acquired through corrupt means.
The money was transferred to the company’s account between July 2, 2018 and March 4, 2019.
Waititu was also facing a similar charge relating to the payment of Sh6 million between August 27 and September 27, 2018, to his company, Testimony Enterprises Limited. The funds were later used as part of the payment for Delta Hotel, which he was in the process of purchasing, knowing that the money belonged to the county.
Also found guilty are the directors of Testimony Enterprises, Charles Chege and Beth Wangeci, who were awarded the tender, along with other county officials.
Nzioki stated that the prosecution had successfully proven that Waititu failed to adhere to the values of national governance and safeguard public funds when he received Sh25 million from Testimony Enterprises following the award of the irregular tender.
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