Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangari Ndung’u, has urged an Anti-Corruption court to give her back the Sh4 million cash bail she posted on July 31 in a corruption case against her.

Wangari, through lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, sought to have the cash bail substituted with a bond of Sh10 million, saying that she had borrowed the money from a squatter.

“We urge the court to substitute the Sh4 million cash bail with a title deed as Wangari had borrowed the money and needs to refund it. A relative wants to put in a Sh10 million surety on her behalf,” said the lawyer. 

Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi asked the investigating officer to conduct a valuation of the land intended to be used as surety before the title deed can be formally accepted in court.

At the same time, the pre-trial conference of the main case was adjourned until October 18.  

This is after the defence team in the case requested for more time to go through all the evidence material supplied by the prosecution on Thursday (September 26) before the pre-trial conference is conducted.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), through Nicholas Mutuku, informed the court that they have lined up 69 witnesses to testify against Wangari, her husband Governor Waititu, and eight others facing several charges over conspiracy to defraud the taxpayer of Sh588 million in road development projects in Kiambu county.

Mutuku also said that his team will need at least 64 hours to successfully table their evidence in the case against the accused persons.

The court heard that prosecution intends to rely on 170 documents to prove the case and urged the court for 4 hours per day. Further, Mutuku said they will rely on six expert reports to make their case.

The magistrate warned the prosecution against disclosing information once witnesses testify in the case.

Waititu, his wife, and six others are facing fraud charges over irregular award of tenders worth Sh588 million. They are accused of fraudulent acquisition of public funds, money laundering, flouting procurement laws, conflict of interest and abuse of office.

The said tenders were awarded to Testimony Enterprise that is owned by Charles Chege and his wife Beth Wangeci, who are expected to be charged alongside Waititu, and Lukas Wahinya, the Roads chief officer.

Forensic investigations and bank records show Testimony advanced Sh25 million to Saika Two Estate Developers Ltd, owned by the governor and his daughter Monica Njeri, to buy Bieneveu Delta Hotel Limited— owned by Waititu and his wife.