This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
Published on August 3, 2019, Governor Ferdinand Waititu has sparked controversy after claiming that over 2000 youths from Kiambu are being mistreated in Industrial Area Remand Prison.
Waititu, who was barred from office by a court ruling, stated that most of the youths are in remand over petty offenses and small fines. He vowed to make sure they are released from jail beginning next week.
“I saw our people being eaten by lice and bedbugs over petty offences and I have decided to make sure they are released from the prison,” Waititu said.
He added, “It was God’s grace that I was taken there to meet and see my people suffering in remand. The situation in there is unbearable and I have to do something to help my people,”
Waititu also dismissed corruption allegations, stating that the ongoing investigations are not about stolen public funds, but about the tendering processes.
“All these noises are not about money stolen but about the tendering process and there are road projects to show for these processes,” he said.
Waititu has been barred from office for the duration of the case involving the irregular procurement of a Sh588 million tender for the upgrading of various roads in the county.
