EACC obtains orders to freeze the wealth of Waititu's family

By Peter Ochieng

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has landed a favourable order against former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu alias Baba Yao.

The anti-corruption body has obtained orders to freeze the wealth of Waititu' family, amounting to nearly Sh2 billion.

EACC in a statement on Saturday said the wealth is unexplained.

"EACC has since obtained orders from the High Court freezing the family’s unexplained wealth amounting to nearly Sh2 billion pending the ongoing civil suit seeking orders for forfeiture of the said assets to the State."

"This week, the anti-corruption court delivered a ruling in one of the multiple graft cases facing former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu Baba Yao, his wife Susan Wangari Ndung’u and 10 others. In its ruling delivered on Thursday, the Court determined that the Waititus have a case to answer in the Sh588 million tender scam," added EACC.

During the previous quarter, EACC said an additional file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommending prosecution of the former governor, his spouse and their daughter for embezzlement of public funds in Kiambu County.

Waititu was elected Kiambu governor in 2017, before being impeached in December, 2019. 63 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) voted in favour of his removal, 28 failed to turn up for the session and one voted against the impeachment motion.

The motion was tabled by Ndenderu MCA Solomon Kinuthia.

He accused the governor of engaging in corrupt dealings, abuse of office, gross misconduct, violating the public procurement rules and conflict of interest after it emerged that tenders in the county were awarded to companies owned by his relatives.

He was also accused of breaching the county procedures by hiring casual workers without the involvement of the County Service Board.

After his impeachment, James Nyoro, his then Deputy assumed office to serve for the reminder of the term.

Nyoro was voted out of office in 2022. Kimani Wamatangi is now the governor.