The High Court has imposed an injunction restricting former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu from accessing his businesses, residences, land parcels, and seven vehicles as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of nearly Ksh2 billion.
A May 31 ruling by Justice Esther Maina froze assets in Nairobi's Central Business District, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Machakos counties, requiring them to remain frozen until the litigation concludes. The court order explicitly barred disposal of these properties by Waititu or his associates.
Waititu faces allegations of illicitly acquiring assets during his tenure as Kiambu governor, which overlapped with his 2018 parliamentary term. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) claims he concealed properties under his wife's and daughter's names, as well as through proxy companies.
EACC investigators identified Ksh805 million in Waititu's accounts and Ksh276 million in his wife's, questioning how he amassed Ksh2 billion in five years. The commission argued in court documents that his wealth was disproportionate to his legitimate income sources, citing abuse of his position as a parliamentarian and governor.
The EACC filed the lawsuit on May 27, framing the action as part of broader efforts to recover public funds from officials suspected of illicit enrichment. Waititu, who sought re-election in August 2022, was excluded from the United Democratic Alliance's gubernatorial nominations and pledged support to rival candidate Paul Kimani Wamatangi.
Legal barriers to his candidacy emerged after Chief Justice Martha Koome clarified that impeached officials cannot run for office until all appeals are exhausted. This created a legal discrepancy between court-convicted legislators and impeached officials, according to Koome's remarks.
A 2018 rally photo of Waititu with his wife Susan Ndung’u illustrates the timeframe of allegations, as investigators trace his wealth accumulation during his 2018-2020 governance period.
