Ex-Kiambu Governor Waititu, wife have a case to answer in Ksh.588M graft case, court rules

While issuing the verdict, Milimani Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki noted that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, including 32 witnesses and 741 exhibits, to substantiate the accusations levelled against Waititu and his assumed accomplices.

The former governor and the co-accused persons are facing 11 counts including one count of conflict of interest, three counts of dealing with suspect property, one count of abuse of office, and one count of willful failure to comply with laws relating to procurement.

They are also facing two counts of engaging in fraudulent practices in procurement, one count of fraudulent acquisition of public properties and two counts of money laundering.

"The defense hearing is scheduled for 19th to 21st March 2024 with the pre-trial on the defense case slated for 16/11/2023," Chief Magistrate Nzyoki ruled.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) commenced investigations into Waititu and the co-accused in 2019 after receiving a complaint on the aforementioned tender in March 2017.

"In March, 2017, the County Government of Kiambu had irregularly awarded a contract for upgrading of various gravel roads to bituminous in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja and Ruiru Sub Counties to Testimony Enterprises Limited at a contract sum of Ksh. 588 million during the financial year 2017/2018," a source at EACC told Citizen Digital.

After conducting investigations, EACC linked Waititu and his wife alongside Charles Chege, the Director Testimony Enterprises Limited, and his spouse Beth Wangeci to the irregular awarding of the tender.

Others included: Zacharia Njenga, who served as the Chief Officer of Roads, Transport, Works, and Public Utilities at the time; members of the Tender Evaluation Committee, namely Joyce Ngina Musyoka, Simon Kabocho Kangéthe, Anselm Gachukia Wanjiku, and Samuel Muigai Mugo; Testimony Enterprises Limited, the company that received the subject tender irregularly; and Bienvenue Delta Hotel & Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, in which the former Governor and his wife served as directors.

"In July 2019, 12 suspects were arrested and arraigned at Nairobi-Milimani Anti-Corruption Court where they pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution called a total of thirty-two (32)witnesses and produced 149 documentary evidence in support of their case," said the EACC source.