How Waititu, Wife, daughter syphoned Sh 30M from County coffers

Embattled Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu alias Baba Yao is not yet off the EACC hook. Or is he? Do you remember his bizarre budget that was presented before the senate committee?

Well, he might have survived that one, but EACC later went for him over alleged graft, prompting the governors to demand for a fair arrest.

The anti-graft agency has however exposed how the county chief, his wife and his daughter milked Ksh 30 million from the County government’s tenders.

In an affidavit before a Kiambu court,EACC accuses the governor of receiving kickbacks through his bank accounts and accounts of companies associated with him, his wife Susan Wangari Ndung’u and their daughter Monica Njeri.

The affidavit by EACC investigator Regina Ng’ang’a details how two companies the commission said are owned by the three, received up to Sh30.6 million from a firm awarded a tender to construct roads late last year and early this year.

EACC said Testimony Enterprises Limited, which had been “irregularly” paid a substantial amount “without producing certificates required to show the work done”, received Sh180 million between April last year and last April.

Investigations showed that the company’s account was opened on March 27, last year by its managing director Charles Chege and Beth Wangechi Mburu, being the directors.

Between July and October last year, Testimony Enterprises Ltd paid Sh25.4 million to Saika Two Estate Developers Limited, which is owned by Waititu and his daughter, according to EACC.

Between October 2018 and January 2019, Testimony Enterprise Limited paid, from its bank account Sh5.2 million to Bienvenue Delta Hotel that is owned by Waititu and his wife, EACC said.

The commission said this emerged during an analysis of statements received from an Equity Bank account held by Testimony Enterprises Limited. It showed numerous transactions on various dates.

The investigator told court their inquiries from Registrar of Companies revealed Waititu and his daughter are the directors of Saika Two Estate Developers Limited.

EACC also said according to the Registrar of Companies, Waititu and his wife are the directors of Bienvenue Delta Hotel.

“An analysis of evidence reveals the governor received kickbacks through his bank accounts and accounts of companies associated with him and his family members for contracts awarded by the county government,” reads the affidavit.

Testimony Enterprise Limited was awarded a tender to construct eight roads on March 8, last year at a cost of Sh588 million.

Mr Chege, on March 9,2018, accepted the tender.The detective indicted that the company had so far been irregularly paid a substantial amount of money.

EACC said money paid to Testimony Enterprise Ltd was transferred either directly or indirectly to the top county officials, their companies or relatives.

EACC further says it is based on this background that it is opposed to granting anticipatory bail to Waititu and Chief Finance Officer Faith Njeri Harrison.

In the case, Waititu and Ms Harrison are named as applicants, while the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Director of Criminal Investigations, Inspector General of Police, EACC and Banking Fraud Unit are named as respondents.

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