Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu cannot catch a break as the court ruled that he and his wife, Susan Wangari, and eleven others have a case to answer.

They face charges concerning the illegal awarding of a Ksh.588 million road deal in Kiambu County in February 2018.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki issued the verdict, noting that the prosecution had provided adequate evidence, including 32 witnesses and 741 items, to substantiate the claims against Waititu and his presumed accomplices.

The former governor and the co-accused face 11 charges, including one count of conflict of interest, three counts of dealing with questionable property, one crime of abuse of office, and one act of intentional failure to comply with procurement regulations.

In addition, they face two counts of engaging in fraudulent procurement practices, one case of fraudulent acquisition of public property, and two counts of money laundering.

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PHOTO | COURTESY Waititu and wife

"The defence hearing is set for March 19th to 21st, 2024, with the pre-trial on the defence case set for November 16th, 2023," Chief Magistrate Nzyoki ruled.

After receiving a complaint about the tender above in March 2017, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched an inquiry into Waititu and the co-accused in 2019.

A source who spoke to Citizen TV said that  In March 2017, the County Government of Kiambu irregularly awarded a contract to Testimony Enterprises Limited for the upgrade of various gravel roads to bituminous in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja, and Ruiru Sub Counties for a contract sum of Ksh. 588 million during the fiscal year 2017/2018.

PHOTO | COURTESY Waititu and his co-accused

Following an inquiry, EACC linked Waititu and his wife, as well as Charles Chege, the Director of Testimony Enterprises Limited, and his wife, Beth Wangeci, to the improper tender awarding.

Others included Zacharia Njenga, the then-Chief Officer of Roads, Transport, Works, and Public Utilities; members of the Tender Evaluation Committee, namely Joyce Ngina Musyoka, Simon Kabocho Kangéthe, Anselm Gachukia Wanjiku, and Samuel Muigai Mugo; Testimony Enterprises Limited, the company that received the subject tender irregularly; and Bienvenue Delta Hotel & Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, in which the