Court to sentence ex-Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu tomorrow

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is set to be sentenced on Thursday, February 13, after being found guilty of conflict of interest in the Ksh.588 million road tender corruption case against him.

Earlier in the day, the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court ruled that Waititu illegally obtained an indirect personal interest in over Ksh.25,624,500 from Testimony Enterprises Limited, funnelling the funds through his company and business name while serving as governor.

Waititu was charged alongside his wife, Susan Wangari, and the directors of Testimony Enterprises Limited, Charles Chege and Beth Wangeci.  

The court convicted them on graft-related charges but acquitted them on three counts of money laundering. Magistrate Thomas Nziyoki issued the ruling.

During the case’s hearing on Wednesday, the prosecution argued that Waititu had been involved in significant corruption activities that caused substantial financial loss to the Kiambu County Government.

“The accused (Waititu) have been charged with corruption-related offences and the amounts involved are huge. As a result, the county government lost a huge amount of money. We pray that in your sentencing consider the principal of proportionality matches the gravity of the offence,” said the prosecution.

“Mandatory fine should be twice the benefits obtained. There were quantifiable benefits and section 48 should apply. The accused should be barred from holding a public office for at least 10 years.”

Waititu’s defence team, however, contended that any punishment imposed on him and his wife, Wangari, would adversely affect their children. They highlighted that both defendants were first-time offenders and expressed deep remorse for their actions.

“Whatever sentence meted upon the first and second accused, who are husband and wife, will have a negative impact on their children. They are first-time offenders and are extremely remorseful. Waititu and his family have been punished enough. He was hounded out of office and into the streets because of this matter,” they said.

“I plead with the court to give a sentence which is rehabilitative and guarantees the defendants of a livelihood,” the defence team asked the court.