The Chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Irungu Nyakera, has revealed that more than six Land Cruisers were used to transport former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu from Industrial Area Prison to Kamiti Maximum Prison on March 24.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 25, Nyakera claimed that Waititu’s arrest and imprisonment were not about justice but rather politics.
“More than six Land Cruisers picked up Waititu from Industrial Area Prison on March 24 and took him to Kamiti Maximum. What he is going through is not justice; it is politics disguised as law. This is fear. Fear of his comeback,” Nyakera said.
He went on to compare Waititu’s situation to that of Jomo Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Koigi wa Wamwere, and Kenneth Matiba, who were jailed but later made a comeback.
“Jomo Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Koigi wa Wamwere, Kenneth Matiba were jailed, mocked, written off but history had other plans. This is not Waititu’s end. It’s his awakening,” he added.
On February 13, 2025, Waititu was sentenced to 12 years in prison or a fine of Ksh53.5 million after he was found guilty of the illegal awarding of a tender during his time as Kiambu County boss.
He was arrested and convicted on corruption charges related to a Ksh588 million road tender scandal during his tenure as governor.
He was sentenced to serve five years in jail or pay a fine of Ksh2.5 million. Additionally, the court imposed a mandatory fine of Ksh51 million, with a default penalty of serving another seven years in prison.
On Tuesday, March 18, he filed a fresh application seeking to be released on bond as he continues to serve his jail term after being convicted of graft.
Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki also directed that Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangare, pay a fine of Ksh500,000 or serve a one-year prison sentence.
The magistrate however, found Waititu’s conduct not to be forgiven since his acts undermined the tenets of good governance.
”This case is a typical example of a breach of public trust by the former Governor and the co-accused. The offending acts of the accused persons were deliberate, inexcusable, and undermined the tenants of good governance,” Nzioka stated.
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