By Frank Wallah.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, on Friday evening (July 26) ordered that Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu be arrested on suspicion of embezzling county funds.
The governor allegedly did not follow due procedure when awarding a Ksh588.2 million road improvement tender to Testimony Enterprise Limited.
The DPP says the director of the firm, which was to upgrade roads in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja and Ruiru sub-counties, “were close associates of Governor Waititu”.
Haji says thus far, Ksh147.3 million “have been irregularly paid to Testimony Enterprises Limited in relation to the upgrading of the said-roads in Kiambu”.
The DPP further states that the now-controversial company was awarded other contracts “to supply goods and services” to Kiambu County “by way of request for proposal”. This transaction, the DPP says, has already seen Waititu paying Testimony Enterprise Limited Ksh74.2 million.
Haji says the firm has so far, from the deals, pocketed Ksh221.5 million.
The DPP said once that money was credited to the account of Testimony Enterprise Limited, “a total of Ksh25.6 million was remitted to entities associated with Governor Waititu”.
Haji says investigations have revealed that Waititu and his wife, Susan, used the monies to acquire Bienvenue Delta Hotel.
The DPP, therefore, ordered the governor’s arrest alongside his wife and eight others, including Kiambu County Chief Officer in charge of Roads, Lukas Wahinya.