NAIROBI, Kenya- The High Court has upheld former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s conviction and sentence in a Sh588 million road tender case and overturned the acquittals of him and three co-accused on money laundering charges.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, October 14, Lady Justice Rose Ougo dismissed appeals by Waititu, former Kiambu County Chief Officer Luka Mwangi Wahinya and Testimony Enterprises director Charles Chege Mbuthia.
The court upheld their convictions and sentences over the irregular procurement of road works in Kiambu County.
The judge also allowed a State cross-appeal against the acquittals on money laundering charges.
She set them aside and entered convictions against Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari Ndungu, Wahinya and Mbuthia.
The four are due before the Anti-Corruption Magistrate’s Court on October 19 for mitigation and sentencing on those charges.
Any sentences imposed will run concurrently with those already imposed in the corruption case.
Sh588 million road tender
The case concerns a Sh588 million contract awarded to Testimony Enterprises Limited during the 2017/2018 financial year to upgrade gravel roads to bitumen standards in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja and Ruiru.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said the High Court ruling upheld the convictions of Waititu, Wangari, Wahinya and Mbuthia for corruption-related offences. Waititu was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with an alternative fine of about Sh52.7 million.
The court also upheld a 10-year disqualification from public office for the convicted persons.
The EACC said the money laundering convictions were significant to its efforts to trace funds linked to suspected corruption.
The lower court had acquitted the accused on those counts before the State appealed.
Other recovery cases ongoing
In a separate unexplained wealth case, the Anti-Corruption Court ordered the forfeiture of assets valued at about Sh131.2 million linked to Waititu and associated parties in December 2025, according to the EACC.
The commission is also pursuing a civil case seeking to recover KSh170 million from Waititu and Testimony Enterprises, which it alleges are proceeds of corruption. That case is still pending determination.
The EACC said the High Court’s decision affirmed its efforts to pursue corruption proceeds through criminal and civil proceedings.
The sentencing hearing on the money laundering convictions is scheduled for October 19.
