Governor Ferdinand Waititu was on Monday arraigned in court where he was charged over the alleged embezzlement of millions of shillings from Kiambu county government coffers.
Governor Waititu was arraigned before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi alongside his wife Susan Wangari Ndung’u and eight other suspects.
Waititu was charged with conflict of interest for allegedly receiving Sh25 million from Testimony Enterprises Limited; a company that was awarded Sh588 million tender by Kiambu County government for upgrade of several roads.
The court was told that between July 2nd, 2018 and March 13th, 2019, being the Director of Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, Waititu received Sh18 million from Testimony Enterprises Limited.
The charge sheet read that he received the amount “while having reason to believe that the said amount was acquired from the Kiambu County Government through corrupt conduct.”
Waititu and his wife also faced a joint charge of dealing with suspect property. The two are accused that being proprietors of Bienvenue Delta Hotel, they jointly received Sh7 million from Testimony Enterprises Limited through corrupt conduct.
The couple was charged alongside Kiambu County Chief Officer for Roads Lukas Wahinya and five members of Kiambu County Tender Evaluation Committee namely; Zakary Njenga Mbugua, Joyce Ng’ina Musyoka, Simon Kabocho Kang’ethe, Anselm Gachukia Wanjiku, and Samuel Muigai Mugo. Wahinya was charged with abuse of office while members of the county evaluation committee faced charges of willful failure to comply with procurement laws.
Others who were charged include Charles Chege Mbuthia (Director, Testimony Enterprises Ltd), Beth Wangeci Mburu (Director, Testimony Enterprises Ltd), Testimony Enterprises Ltd, Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, and Bienvue Delta Hotel. Mr. Chege and Ms. Wangeci were charged with money laundering and engaging in a fraudulent practice.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Watch this case very…
Watch this case very carefully. It will go nowhere just like thousands other financial corruption involving government official. They steal Wananchi money with impunity. They have license to steal without consequences. All these folks who have been implicated will go on to steal more money. It is all a game. If the government was serious about the corruption business they should confiscate all the ill gotten wealth. These folks should be serving long sentences in prison. It is just a game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!