Kiambu chief Mr Ferdinand Waititu was earlier this week arrested by EACC detectives and questioned over the controversial ‘Kaa Sober’ initiative which is said to have consumed an estimated Sh700 million before it was terminated. Waititu was grilled for hours together with his family members and released after being granted Sh500,000 anticipatory bail by Kiambu Principal Magistrate Brian Khaemba who further ordered the governor to present himself alongside his lawyers to a police station.
Since his arrest, the besieged Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has remained silent about his family’s involvement in the embezzlement of funds at the county coffers and all he had to say was that anybody is free to do business with the county.
His statement suggests that the family may have been involved in doing business with the county and provides a hint into why the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has accused him of conflict of interest.
Evidence gathered by the EACC sleuths suggests that some of his relatives got tenders.
The governor’s daughter Monica Njeri, a doctor at Kenyatta National Hospital, was a person of interest amid reports that millions of shillings were wired through her bank accounts.
“Preliminary investigations show that contractors paid monies to senior county officials, their companies or relatives through proxies,” EACC chief executive officer Twalib Mbarak said in a statement.
The governor faces possible charges for fraudulent acquisition of public funds, conflict of interest and money laundering as the anti-graft agency tightens the noose on graft lords.
Waititu who says people would commit suicide if they found out his true massive wealth, used a familiar looting template like Obado’s.
Awarded himself tenders using his proxy companies, DCI pieced it all up. He used his daughters bank 🏦 account to pass over Sh100M.
— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) May 24, 2019
The county boss bragged that Kenyans would “run mad or commit suicide” if they knew his massive wealth but it only a matter of days and he could be arraigned to answer to the charges once investigations are complete.
Kiambu County’s Ferdinand Waititu is the only politician to have been declared UNFIT TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE by a court of law. @IEBCKenya still allowed him to vie. The people of Kiambu elected him overwhelmingly. Together with members of his family they are now looting Kiambu dry.
— Bobby (@Bob_Odhiambo) May 23, 2019