- A magistrate’s court will deliver its sentence today against former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
- He was found guilty of corruption-related charges involving the irregular award of a KSh 588 million road tender.
- His wife, Susan Wangari, and other co-accused, including business directors and a former county official, were also convicted.
- The ruling will determine whether they face a custodial sentence or receive a more lenient punishment.
Waititu and his co-accused were found guilty of corruption in a case involving the misallocation of funds in Kiambu County’s road projects. The prosecution argued that the tendering process was manipulated to favor Testimony Enterprises Limited, leading to the fraudulent KSh 588 million contract award.
Their lawyer, John Swaka, pleaded for leniency, arguing that the accused had suffered immensely since arraignment.
Through their legal team, the convicts asked the court for a non-custodial sentence, stating that they had already suffered both financially and socially due to the lengthy court proceedings. They expressed remorse and pleaded for forgiveness.
Lucas Wahinya, a former county official, further argued that he is the sole breadwinner for his family and that imprisonment would devastate his dependents.
However, Prosecutor Faith Mwila pushed for a tough sentence, insisting that corruption must not go unpunished.
“This offense has a devastating impact on society. A strong sentence will send a clear message that corruption has consequences,” Mwila argued in court.
The court’s ruling will determine whether Waititu and his co-accused will serve a jail term or receive a more lenient punishment. The sentencing is expected to set a precedent for graft cases involving high-ranking officials.
