Governor Waititu’s wife, 14 others arrested over illegal Nairobi buildings

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waiitu taking oath of office at Ndumberi stadium as his wife (left) looks on. (File, Standard)

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu's wife, Susan Wangare, and 14 other people have been arrested on Wednesday in connection with illegal and unapproved construction of a building in Nairobi.

Also detained were Robert Rukwaro, Simon Ngare, Julius Mukala, Kyalo Musyoka, Dickson Mulinga, Paul Mutunga, Johson Wambua Omondi, Dickson Kyalo, Joseph Muiruri, Charles Mwanzi, Kithus Sammy, Alexander Mbithi and Paul Shivanga.

She was later released on Sh80,000 cash bail after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s intervention.

In a video doing rounds on social media, a voice similar to Governor Sonko's urges Waititu and his wife to apply and go for the building approvals.

Sonko insists the arrest orders were from above and drops the name Waita. He says he is releasing Mrs Waititu because she is a First Lady just like his (Sonko's) wife.

The voice akin to Sonko's acknowledges by releasing Mrs Waititu, the law is being broken.

In the clip, a voice similar to Waititu’s pleads with Sonko to release the wife and the "other 14". He reminds Sonko,’tumezunguka hii Nairobi’.

The arrest comes days after Governor Waititu opposed the on-going demolitions of buildings found to have been erected on riparian land and waterways, saying that there are other alternative ways of addressing the problem, including the shifting of waterways.

Sonko told him off for expressing such sentiments when President Kenyatta was leading the war against impunity.

Waititu, who spoke on Sunday in Gikambura, Kikuyu constituency in the presence of Deputy President William Ruto said he was opposed to the demolitions and said the drastic action was not a solution to the problem.