A Nairobi Court has slapped a Sh.15 million cash bail or two sureties of Sh. 30 million to Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu who was on Monday charged with corruption.
Waititu who has been accused of conflict of interest, dealings in suspect property, abuse of office, willful failure to comply with procurement laws, money laundering and fraudulent acquisition of public property will not be allowed to access his office until the corruption case he is facing is concluded and determined.
The Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate (CM), Lawrence Mugambi ruled that Waititu and the other suspects should have no contact with the witnesses or tamper with evidence, deposit all their travel documents to the court and those without passports to present a confirmation from the immigration department.
“Barring Waititu from office will not in any way violate the constitution, as a matter of fact, it will ensure that public interest is safeguarded,” said Mugambi.
The CM was responding to Waititu’s defense lawyer Tom Ojienda’s plea that the Kiambu governor should not be limited from executing his responsibilities basing his argument on a ruling by Justice Hedwig Ong’undi in which she allowed former NLC Chairman Mohamad Swazuri to access his office even after being charged.
The Kiambu County Chief Officer of Roads, Luka Mwangi and businessman, Charles Chege, whose company is at the centre of the Sh. 588, were also released on a Sh.15 million bail and Sh.30 million bond.
Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangari, and the fifth accused, Beth Wangechi, were released on a Sh.4 million bail and Sh.10 million surety.
The CM also ruled that members of the tender committee, Zachariah Njenga, Joyce Ngina, Simon Kabocho, Anselm Gachukia and Samual Muigai, are released on a grant of Sh.1 million bail and Sh.3 million bond.
All the accused, like the Governor, are barred from accessing the County offices; they are to deposit their travel documents and those who do not have will be required to get a confirmation from the Immigration Department that they do not have passports.
The case will be mentioned on August 26, 2019.
By Philly Opere/Babra Adhiambo/Alice Gworo
