Nairobi, Kenya – Former Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of corruption, fraud, and conflict of interest. His wife and three other individuals were also found guilty in the case.
The Nairobi court ruled that Waititu illegally awarded road-building contracts worth 588 million Kenyan shillings ($4.5 million) during his time in office. Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki ordered Waititu to pay a fine of 53 million shillings ($400,000) or serve the full sentence.
A Major Conviction in Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Drive
Waititu, who was impeached in 2020, is one of the most high-profile figures convicted under Kenya’s anti-corruption crackdown. The ruling also bars him from holding public office for 10 years.
His wife received a one-year prison sentence but can avoid jail by paying a fine of 500,000 shillings ($3,869).
Waititu becomes the second ex-governor jailed for corruption in Kenya, where high-level graft cases often take years to prosecute, with many officials avoiding punishment.
