Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari on Monday, June 5, 2023, failed to attend court for the trial of a corruption case over a Sh588 million road construction tender.
The couple’s lawyer John Swaka told Milimani Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki that Waititu was unable to attend court as he is currently admitted at the Aga Khan Hospital after he collapsed at his home on Sunday evening.
Sakwa said he was taken to the medical facility by his wife Susan Wangari, who is also an accused in the case.
“I was informed today morning that my client Waititu and his wife Wangari are in hospital after he collapsed yesterday and was rushed to Aga Khan where he is admitted,” lawyer Swaka said.
While asking for an adjournment, the lawyer said he will avail medical documents as soon as possible to the court to prove the hospital treatment and admission.
Magistrate Nzyoki allowed the adjournment to Tuesday, June 6, 2023 and directed the lawyer to present the medical documents.
“I have not been furnished with any medical documents. I direct that the matter be mentioned tomorrow. All accused persons are to appear in court. Medical reports to be availed on the issue of hospitalisation,” the magistrate said.
He also ordered Wangari to appear in court.
The case was coming for a further hearing where a documents examiner was expected to testify in the matter.
The prosecution witness was to table evidence on examination of Kiambu County government tender evaluation reports and payment vouchers signed by an official of the county government.
He was also to testify on contract documents, an agreement of sale between a company associated with Waititu known as Saika Two Ltd and Superior Phone Ltd.
The witnesses are expected to reveal to the court whether Waititu signed the agreement and report on the examination of the signatures.
Waititu was charged on July 29, 2019, with fraud, conflict of interest, dealing with suspect property, money laundering and abuse of office.
Saika Two Estate Developers Limited, a firm owned by Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari, was said to have received more than Sh25 million from Testimony Enterprises Limited Contractor, a firm contracted by the county government to develop roads through an irregular tendering process.
In this case, Waititu faced another count together with his wife and accompanied they co-founded together being Bienvenue Delta Hotel.
It is alleged that between October 3, 2018 and January 2019, the two proprietors of the said company jointly received Sh7.2 million from testimony enterprises while having reason to believe that the said amount was acquired from Kiambu County through corrupt conduct.
Waititu and his wife are charged alongside eight others Luka Mwangi, Charles Chege, Beth Wangechi, Zacharia Njenga, Joyce Ngina, Simon Kabocho, Anselem Gachukia, Samuel Muigai, Testimony enterprises limited, Saika two estate developers limited and Delta hotel.
