Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been fined Sh. 53.5 million for receiving bribes from a roads contractor in a Sh. 588 million tender. Waititu was handed the fine during a sentence that was issued by Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
Failure to pay the amount will see Waititu serve a 12-year jail sentence. Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangari, was fined Sh. 500,000 failure to which she will serve a one-year jail sentence. Waititu has also been barred from holding public office following his conviction in the graft case.
Waititu his wife and others have been facing legal battles since former Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered their arrest and prosecution over the illegal award of a roads upgrade tender and embezzlement of county funds in July 2019.
The contract was awarded to Testimony Enterprises during the 2017-18 financial year. It was for the upgrade of gravel roads to bituminous surface in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja and Ruiru subcounties.
See the list of Sh. 1.94 billion properties that are allegedly ‘owned’ by Waititu
The EACC had forwarded an inquiry file to the DPP’s office on July 9, 2019, and evidence showed that the tender award was skewed in favour of Testimony Enterprises. The directors of Testimony are close associates of Waititu’s.
According to the EACC, a total of Sh. 147.2 million had been irregularly paid to the firm. Furthermore, Testimony Enterprises was awarded other contracts for the provision of goods to Kiambu county by request for proposal. Once the funds were paid, millions of money were allegedly remitted to entities associated with Waititu.
In the ruling, Charles Chege who is the Director of testimony Enterprises Limited has fined Sh. 295 million or serve nine years in prison. His wife Beth Wangechi has been fined Sh. 1.4 million or serve two years and four months in jail. The judgements were handed out by Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki,
