Waititu received Ksh.25M from Kiambu County through his own company, court told

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari Ndung’u have been charged over alleged embezzlement of millions of shillings from Kiambu county coffers.

The two alongside six others were presented before Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi on Monday morning.

Governor Waititu was charged with conflict of interest for allegedly receiving Ksh.25,624,500 from Testimony Enterprises Limited; a company that had been awarded contracts by the Kiambu County Government.

The court heard that between July 2, 2018 and March 13, 2019, being the Director of Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, Waititu received Ksh.18,410,500 from Testimony Enterprises Limited.

He was accused of receiving the money “while having reason to believe that the said amount was acquired from the Kiambu County Government through corrupt conduct.”

The governor and his wife also faced a joint charge of dealing with suspect property. They were accused that being proprietors of Bienvenue Delta Hotel they jointly received Ksh.7,214,000 from Testimony Enterprises Limited through corrupt conduct.

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji said Governor Waititu is listed as a director of Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd and together with his wife they are also directors of Bienvue Delta Hotel.

They were charged alongside Lukas Wahinya (Chief Officer Roads, Kiambu County), and five other members of the Kiambu County Evaluation Committee including; Zakary Njenga Mbugua, Joyce Ng’ina Musyoka, Simon Kabocho Kang’ethe, Anselm Gachukia Wanjiku and Samuel Muigai Mugo.

Also charged in the case are 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.

The directors of Testimony Enterprises Ltd — Charles Chege and Beth Wangeci — were charged with money laundering and engaging in a fraudulent practice.

Lukas Wahinya; the county Chief Officer Roads, was charged with abuse of office while the county evaluation committee members faced charges of wilful failure to comply with procurement laws.

They all denied the charges.

The court is set to rule on their bail application on Tuesday.