Judiciary Defends Ksh 53.7 Million Fine On Waititu

The Judiciary has defended the decision by Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki to fine former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu Ksh 53,749,000 or a jail term of 12 years.

In a statement on Friday, February 14, the Judiciary noted that in the Ksh 588 million graft case where Waititu was found guilty of fraud and conflict of interest, he and his wife only received Ksh 25,624,500 from the contractor Testimony Enterprises Limited through their entities Saika Two Estates Developers Limited and Bienvenue Delta Hotel.

According to the Judiciary, the Ksh 53.7 million fine on Waititu is double the Ksh 25.6 million he received in the scandal.

“Mr. Ferdinand Ndungu Waititu Babayao was sentenced to a cumulative fine of Kshs.53,749,000/- and in the alternative to serve 12 years imprisonment.

“The fine of Kshs. 53,749,000 /- is more than double the benefit of Kshs 25,624,500/- received by the accused person,” read part of the statement by the Judiciary.

The Judiciary also noted that Charles Chege Mbuthia the main director of Testimony Enterprises Limited only received Ksh 147,274,055.40 from the Kiambu County Government but he was sentenced to pay a cumulative fine of Ksh 296,548,110 and in default to serve 11 years imprisonment.

Waititu's wife Susan Wangari was on the other hand fined Ksh 500,000 and in default to serve one year imprisonment.

This comes after a section of Kenyans criticized the Judiciary for slapping Waititu with a fine of Ksh 53.7 million out of the 588 million corruption case.

Netizens compared the fine to that of Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke, who was sentenced to 67 years in prison with an option of a Ksh 1 billion fine after being found guilty in a Ksh 313 million maize scandal.