Probe targets Waititu’s daughters fat accounts

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu (second right) after he was picked up by EACC officials over corruption allegations on Thursday. (Beverlyne Musili, Standard)

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed that the probe against Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has stretched to his immediate family members and cronies.

EACC Spokesman Yassin Amaro said the governor’s immediate family, including his two daughters, were at the centre of the investigations.

One is a pediatrician at a city hospital while the other is a student at a private university. The investigators have been trying to establish the source of the huge amounts of cash in their bank accounts.

No blocking order

The governor is accused of amassing questionable wealth since he assumed office late 2017.

“All the 14 people including the Governor are persons of interest. We are probing any matter linked to financial impropriety, and irregular procurement dealings. We are still on the matter and checking on the movements of cash and property,” said Amaro

He added: “We have not received any order blocking the investigation from any institution. The probe is on, including the two daughters of the governor.”

Though EACC has not officially documented how much the daughters are worth, insiders admitted that it is significant to warrant attention.

“The officers retrieved documents from Waititu’s houses and offices. The officers spent the whole day sorting out the documents to establish which are relevant to the case,” a source told the Sunday Standard. The governor has remained mum on the alleged involvement of his immediate family members in theft of millions of shillings from the county government coffers.

Investigators involved in the case, painted a picture of a shaken Waititu during the raid at his house in Runda in Nairobi and interrogation.

However, when he emerged from the house, to board the famous ‘political hearse’ van, he was composed.

Among the issues under probe is claims that some of his relatives got tenders, a matter captured in the EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak statement on conflict of interest.

But Waititu, after further probe at EACC headquarters, obtained a Sh500,000 anticipatory bail to block his impending arrest by police.

The governor was accompanied by Senator Samson Cherargei and Karori Oliver Kipchumba, when he recorded statements on a number of issues after hours of agony at his Runda residence.

Mbarak said they are investigating the governor following reports and intelligence over irregular procurement, fraudulent acquisition of public funds, conflict of interest and money laundering.

The county chief is in trouble over claims of irregular award of tenders worth Sh588 million to companies associated with his administration.

“Preliminary investigations show that contractors paid monies to senior county officials, their companies or relatives through proxies.”

Kieleweke critics

Mbarak also indicated the raid was extended to his family members, directors of private companies and ten senior county employees.

During the search, valuable evidence relevant to the investigations was recovered.

But Waititu told off his critics, terming the graft purge a targeted fight against Tanga Tanga wing, allied to the Deputy President.

He failed to address the substance of the matter and directed his anger at ‘Kieleweke.’

On claims about his family members doing business with the county, the governor said it is not an offence. He maintained that anybody is free do business with Kiambu county government.