Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari whom they are co-accused have been found guilty of graft in the Sh588 million graft case.
Waititu and his wife alongside three others were found guilty of a conflict of interest after they received a tender involving the construction of roads in Kiambu County which he was serving.
The three others include Charles Chege and his Wife Beth Wangechi and former Kiambu County government Chief Officer for Roads Engineer Luke Mwangi.
Appearing before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki on Wednesday, Waititu together with the four co-accused, were found guilty of having committed several crimes on various accounts among them a conflict of interest, award of tenders without the approval of the County Assembly, and forgery of documents among others.
“Waititu failed the oath of office and to safeguard public funds. With regards to those offenses as charged, I find the accused persons guilty as charged,” the Magistrate stated.
Nzioki based his ruling on the twelve counts which he found the former County boss and his co-accused were liable to breaking the law.
”Count one, first accused person (Waititu) guilty, count two, first accused person and Saika Two Estate Developers Limited guilty, count three, first accused person and Saika Two Developers limited guilty,” He said in the ruling.
”Inevitable conclusion, the first accused person you are viable in count number one for conflict of interest by acquiring an indirect person of interest accumulated sum of Ksh25 million,” he added.
Waititu and his wife together with the other accussed persons were in 2022 acquitted the charges of money laundering
”With regards to the offence of money laundering, contrary to section 311 in Roman as read with 16 and accounts 10, 11 and 13, I find the accused persons not guilty and I acquit them under the provision of section 215.”
The Magistrate dismissed earlier claims by the former county boss that the case was politically motivated.
He assured the accused that he had thoroughly reviewed the documents submitted by both the prosecution and the defense and found no evidence of a political agenda.
