EACC still pursuing Waititu over Ksh.1.9B unexplained wealth, Ksh.50M fraudulent tenders

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) says it is still pursuing former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu over close to Ksh.2 billion unexplained assets and other graft charges.

The move, which comes after the High Court sentenced the former Governor to 12 years in prison or pay Ksh.52.5 million in the Ksh.588 million graft case, will also see Waititu face other charges involving handling of fraudulent tenders worth Ksh.50 million.

According to the commission, in the first case, Waititu is accused of fraudulent acquisition of unexplained wealth amounting to Ksh.1.9 billion during his tenure as Governor.

The said wealth was frozen by court after the hearing of the case was completed in 2022 and is now pending judgment.

The assets comprised of 18 parcels of land and seven motor vehicles.

Investigations by the anti-graft watchdog at the time stated that Waititu awarded irregular tenders to contractors who then forwarded the proceeds of the sham procurement contracts to his bank accounts and that of his wife as well as three companies registered under his spouse's names.

The companies involved were Saika Two Estate Developers Limited, Bienvenue Delta Hotel and Bins Management Services Limited.

"He also traded with the county through companies registered in the names of his wife and their daughter Monica Njeri Ndungu, who upon receipt of payments from the county transferred money to him," a source at EACC told Citizen Digital. 

"As a result, he accumulated assets worth Ksh.1,937,709,376.54 which is disproportionate to his known legitimate sources of income for the period between 2015 and 2020."

In the second case involving Ksh.50 million graft, EACC forwarded the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) which has since recommended charges against Waititu.

Waititu is the second former Governor in the country to be convicted after his Samburu counterpart Moses Lenolkulal.

The commission in total has taken nine former Governors to court, with seven of them having active cases. They include Dr Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Mike Sonko (Nairobi), Okoth Obado (Migori), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu) and Mwangi Wa Iria (Murangá).

A case involving Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki was however withdrawn.