NAIROBI — Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and businessman Charles Mbuthia Chege on Monday urged a Milimani Anti-Corruption Court to spare their wives from further punishment, insisting the women were merely silent partners in businesses linked to a controversial Sh588 million road tender.
“Our wives are innocent. They were silent partners in the business,” the two men told Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa during mitigation proceedings in the long-running graft case.
Waititu, already serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption-related offences stemming from the same matter, asked the court to take into account the punishment he and his co-accused have already undergone. He also apologised, describing himself and his wife as first offenders and requesting leniency.
The case centres on a contract awarded in the 2017/2018 financial year to Testimony Enterprises Limited to upgrade gravel roads to bitumen standard in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja and Ruiru sub-counties. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) alleged the tender was irregularly awarded, with forged academic certificates used and more than Sh147 million fraudulently obtained, portions of which were traced to accounts and companies linked to the accused.
Waititu was previously found to have received approximately Sh25.6 million through entities including Saika Two Estate Developers Limited. His wife, Susan Wangari Ndung’u, was linked to about Sh7.2 million via Bienvenue Delta Hotel. Other co-accused include former Kiambu County Chief Officer for Roads Luka Mwangi Wahinya and Chege’s wife, Beth Wangeci.
In February 2025, the trial court convicted Waititu, Wahinya, Chege and others on charges including conflict of interest, dealing with suspect property and procurement fraud. Waititu received a 12-year sentence or a fine of roughly Sh52.7 million; Wangari was given one year or a Sh500,000 fine. The court initially acquitted some of the accused on money-laundering counts.
On 14 October 2026, High Court Justice Rose Ougo upheld the main convictions, dismissed the appeals, and allowed the State’s cross-appeal. She set aside the money-laundering acquittals and convicted Waititu, Wangari and others on those counts, ordering the file returned to the magistrate’s court for mitigation and sentencing. Bail terms were cancelled, returning the accused to custody.
During Monday’s hearing, Wangari’s lawyer, Chris Mutuku, told the court she was a silent partner who had signed only initial incorporation documents, was neither a signatory to accounts nor a decision-maker, and had not been shown to have directly benefited. He argued she had been drawn into the case largely by association. Similar submissions were made regarding Wangeci, described as a mother and family breadwinner with minor children.
Chege also pleaded for his wife, noting she held only a single share at incorporation and had no signing authority over company accounts. Defence lawyers asked the court to consider time already spent in custody, heavy fines already imposed, the need for rehabilitation, and the impact of dual parental sentences on children.
The accused remain in custody. Sentencing is expected on 2 November 2026.
The EACC has welcomed the High Court’s decision to uphold the convictions and reinstate the money-laundering findings as part of efforts to follow the money in public procurement cases.