Former Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu at the Milimani Law Court on February 13, 2025, before he was jailed for 12 years in a Sh588 million corruption case.
The family of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is still on the anti-corruption agency’s radar, this time over Sh1.9 billion wealth that is suspected to have been amassed fraudulently from public funds.
The High Court Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes division is expected to deliver its judgment on a forfeiture suit filed by the anti-graft agency two years ago alleging that Mr Waititu multiplied his wealth 17 times from Sh110 million to Sh1.9 billion between 2015 and 2020.
Part of his wealth, including commercial buildings in Nairobi Central Business and motor vehicles, has since been frozen by court pending the judgment.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is seeking recovery of the alleged unexplained wealth to the State, a move that if successful will be a major blow to Mr Waititu and his family.
This, even as he this week begun serving a 12-year jail term at Industrial Area Prison for receiving kickbacks amounting to Sh25.6 million from a road contractor, Testimony Enterprises Ltd. The money was channelled to his companies Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd and Bienvenue Delta Hotel Ltd.
He was escorted to jail on Thursday after failing to immediately raise a fine of Sh53.7 million.
The road contractor, businessman Charles Chege Mbuthia, is also serving a jail term of 11 years after he was unable to raise a fine of Sh296.5 million.
He was sentenced over fraudulent acquisition of Sh147 million from Kiambu County Government.
In the forfeiture suit, which is pending judgment before the High Court Nairobi, Mr Waititu’s family could lose wealth comprising 18 land parcels, six motor vehicles, one tractor and multi-storey commercial buildings in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Hearing of the case concluded before Justice Prof (Dr) Nixon Wanyama Sifuna. The judgment was scheduled to be delivered last month but the court adjourned and said the verdict will be issued on notice.
EACC filed the suit in May 2022 and the High Court issued temporary orders freezing the assets, effectively blocking Mr Waititu and his family from dealing with the properties or receiving income from the commercial buildings until the court rules on the case.
The unexplained wealth targeted by EACC was acquired by Mr Waititu between 2015 when he rejoined Parliament as Kabete MP and 2020 when he was impeached from Kiambu Governorship by MCAs.
The 63-year-old politician has had a chequered career in politics having started as Councillor for Njiru Ward in 2002, to Nairobi Deputy Mayor in 2006 and MP for Embakasi Constituency in 2008 where served up to 2013.
In 2010, he was appointed Assistant Cabinet Minister for Water and Irrigation by the late President Mwai Kibaki.
He rejoined Parliament in 2015 as Kabete MP and ascended to Kiambu County Governorship in 2017.
According to EACC, between 2015 and 2020 Mr Waititu multiplied his wealth 17 times by amassing properties worth Sh1,937,709,376 while his total legitimate income during the period was Sh110 million.
Former Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu at the Milimani Law Court on February 12, 2025.
The defendants in the forfeiture suit are Mr Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari, Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, Bienvenue Delta Hotel and Bins Management Services Limited. Maisawa & Spare Parts, Lexis International Ltd and Eileen Wanjiku Mbuga are listed as interested parties.
Among the properties frozen and targeted by EACC for forfeiture to the State is a house in Runda, Solar House Nairobi, Bienvenue Delta Hotel in Nairobi CBD, a house along Biashara Street and another house in Runda Grove.
The land parcels are situated in Nairobi’s metropolis including Lakisama Nairobi, Migaa Estate, Embakasi Ranching, Thindigua Kiambu, Kayole, Kabete and Kitengela Kajiado County.
EACC argues that during the five-year period, Mr Waititu’s income from salary and legitimate businesses could not have exceeded Sh110 million.
Former Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu (left) and wife Susan Wangari Ndung’u at the Milimani Law Court on February 13, 2025, before they were sentenced in a Sh588 million corruption case.
The commission’s investigations established that Mr Waititu’s assets from known legitimate sources of income during the period under review were a net salary of Sh29.5 million, while from his legitimate businesses he earned a net income of Sh81.3 million.
Asked by EACC the source of the wealth, Mr Waititu failed to explain, prompting the court action.
The multi-storey commercial buildings in Nairobi CBD that EACC is pursing include Jamii Bora Building allegedly purchased by Mr Waititu at Sh200 million, Delta Hotel (Sh380 million), Biashara Shopping Mall (Sh110 million), a house on Runda (Sh30 million) and Runda Grove (Sh96 million).
Also in the spotlight are his wife’s ownership of four land parcels in Kajiado and Kabete valued at Sh19 million.
