Ferdinand Waititu Found Guilty

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been found guilty in a Ksh588 million corruption case that has been dragging on for years.

This after the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, February 12 ruled that he, along with his wife and other county officials, was involved in fraudulent tender allocations, conflict of interest, and forgery.

Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki determined that Waititu unlawfully profited from public funds, including Ksh25 million obtained through a company associated with him.

''With regards to those offenses as charged, I find the accused persons guilty as charged,'' Chief Magistrate Nzioka ruled.

Ferdinand Waititu at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on February 12, 2025. /PHOTO

The court convicted him on multiple charges, holding him and his co-accused accountable for financial misconduct and abuse of office.

"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 Developers limited guilty," read part of Nzioka's 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."

On September 21, 2024, Waititu was found with a case to answer, with Milimani Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki ruling that the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had established a prima facie case against the accused persons.

The magistrate said that the evidence adduced by the prosecution through 32 witnesses and 741 exhibits was overwhelming to enable them to be placed on their defence.

Waititu, who was impeached as Kiambu County boss in January 2020, was charged with the irregular award of a tender of Ksh588 million. 

The court had frozen his property and his vehicles pending the determination of a case filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Waititu is accused by the EACC of abusing his position by engaging in business dealings that were against the public interest and accumulating wealth that was out of proportion to his known legitimate sources of income.

Prior to the commencement of the case against Waititu, the High Court granted an application by the State to freeze 18 properties and seven cars owned by Waititu. He is accused of fraudulently accumulating assets totalling Ksh1.94 billion between 2015 and 2020 while serving as governor.

EACC in May 2022 targeted properties that included houses in Runda, Lakisama, Migaa Estate, Runda Grove and parcels of land in Embakasi Ranching, Thindigua and Kayole, all amounting to Ksh280 million.