Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and businessman Charles Mbuthia Chege have sought leniency for their wives in a Sh588 million road tender scam case. Waititu and Chege, director of Testimony Enterprises, made the plea on Tuesday during a hearing of their mitigation pleas at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court. They are accused of being involved in a scam related to a road tender worth Sh588 million.
Waititu and Chege, through their lawyers, argued that their wives, Susan Wangari Ndung'u and Beth Wangechi Mburu, were not involved in the decision-making process of the tender. They claimed that the women were only partners in the company and did not sign the company's accounts or participate in business decisions. Waititu's lawyer stated that Susan did not sign the company's accounts and did not participate in business decisions.
Waititu, who is already serving a 12-year sentence for corruption-related offenses, asked the court to consider the sentences they had already served. He argued that the punishment should aim to reform the offender rather than destroy their life, and requested a second chance. Chege also stated that his wife had only one share in the company and did not have the authority to sign bank accounts.
Chege is serving an 11-year sentence or a fine of Sh296 million. However, the prosecution opposed the plea, stating that each accused person should be held accountable for the crimes they committed and punished according to the law. The judge, Rose Ougo, changed the court's earlier decision to acquit the accused of money laundering charges, citing errors in evaluating evidence and the law.
Waititu was found guilty of receiving Sh25 million in bribes from a company that won a Sh588 million road tender. The court is expected to sentence the four accused on November 2. The case involves a tender for a road worth Sh588 million, and the accused are facing charges related to corruption and money laundering.
The court's decision to consider the pleas of Waititu and Chege is significant, given their already lengthy sentences. The judge will consider the facts of the case and the accused's pleas before making a final decision. The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the large sum of money involved.
The outcome of the case will be closely watched, as it has implications for corruption and accountability in Kenya. The court's decision will be based on the evidence presented and the law, and will likely have far-reaching consequences for those involved.
Key points
- - Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and businessman Charles Mbuthia Chege have sought leniency for their wives in a Sh588 million road tender scam case. - Waititu and Chege are accused of being involved in a scam related to a road tender worth Sh588 million. - The court is expected to sentence the four accused on November 2.
