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Waititu links political woes to his support for Ruto
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu testifies in self-defence on Wednesday during the hearing of a case where he is charged with abuse of office and corruption during his tenure as the governor.
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu testifies in self-defence on Wednesday during the hearing of a case where he is charged with abuse of office and corruption during his tenure as the governor. PHOTO/Charles Mathai

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Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu defended himself in the Sh588 million graft case, saying they were instituted because of his overwhelming support for President William Ruto during the 2022 succession politics.

Waititu took to the dock and told Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyuki of Milimani Anti-Corruption Court that when the politics of Tanga Tanga started, he was one of the major proponents in Kiambu. He said because of his support for William Ruto, the then ruling class engineered his arrest and subsequent charging in court.

“I supported Ruto so much when he was the deputy president. I was sacrificed in a wider political war linked to the 2022 succession politics.”

He defended himself, saying the pending graft case was levelled against him so that he could be hounded out of office—a move which Waititu said the former ruling class succeeded in. 

“It was a scheme. It was political witch hunt. The case was started to hound me out of office. They succeeded because when I was charged, one of the conditions when bail terms was set was that I should not go back to office,” he said.

He explained to the court that what followed was his impeachment after instructions from State House.  He said when the matter escalated to Senate, money exchanged hands.  “Senators were bribed to uphold my impeachment,” he said.

The former governor, his wife Susan Wangari, Testimony enterprises, its directors and others were in 2019 charged over the irregular award of Sh588,198,328.20 roads tender in Kiambu.

The tender in question was issued on February 12, 2018, and awarded to Testimony Enterprise owned by Charles Chege and Beth Wangeci after quoting Sh588 million.

The tender was for upgrading of various gravel roads in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja, and Ruiru sub counties during the financial year 2017-18.

After the award, the company allegedly gave Waititu a kickback of Sh25.6 million. The prosecution closed its case last year after calling 32 witnesses and presenting a number of documentary evidence.

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