The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured substantial fines and custodial sentences against former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his co-accused in a money laundering case. Waititu was fined Sh21 million and faces a 13-year prison sentence if he defaults on payment. The sentences were delivered by Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa at the Anti-Corruption Magistrate’s Court. The case involved Sh25.6 million and was linked to various corruption-related offences.
Waititu was found guilty in three separate money laundering counts involving Sh12,410,500, Sh7,214,000, and Sh6 million. He was fined Sh10 million, Sh6 million, and Sh5 million respectively. In default of payment, he will serve five years, four years, and four years in prison, with the default sentences running concurrently. The court also handed down substantial fines and custodial sentences to his co-accused, including Charles Chege Mbuthia and Beth Wangeci Mburu.
The co-accused received significant fines and prison sentences. Mbuthia was fined Sh10 million or five years in default for the first count, while Mburu was fined Sh2 million or two years in default. Saika Two Estate Developers Limited and Testimony Enterprises Limited were each fined Sh16 million. In the second and third counts, similar fines and default prison sentences were imposed on Mbuthia, Mburu, and the corporate entities.
During mitigation, the defence sought leniency, citing the accused persons’ family responsibilities and the emotional strain caused by the prolonged court proceedings since 2019. They also requested permission to pay the fines in instalments over two years. However, the prosecution, led by Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda, opposed the applications, stressing the gravity of money laundering offences.
The prosecution emphasized the implications of money laundering for Kenya’s financial system and international obligations, including those under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework. Monda urged the court to assess each accused person’s mitigation independently and impose penalties commensurate with the offences. The court ultimately directed the corporate entities to settle their fines within 14 days.
The court ruled that failure to pay the fines would attract the applicable default custodial sentences. The accused persons were granted 14 days to appeal against the sentences. The prosecution team included Monda, Assistant Directors of Public Prosecutions Faith Mwila and Linda Mwamburi. The DPP’s successful prosecution underscores the efforts to combat corruption and money laundering in Kenya.
The case demonstrates the authorities' commitment to upholding the law and ensuring accountability among public officials. Former Governor Waititu and his co-accused must now either pay the substantial fines or face imprisonment. The DPP’s office continues to play a crucial role in pursuing justice in corruption-related cases, in line with Kenya’s legal framework and international commitments.
Key points
- Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu fined Sh21 million and faces 13-year prison sentence
- Co-accused receive substantial fines and custodial sentences for their roles in the money laundering case
- The DPP’s successful prosecution highlights Kenya’s efforts to combat corruption and money laundering
