Kiambu Governor Waititu to stay out of office, says judge
Nancy Gitonga
Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was dealt a blow yesterday after the High Court upheld the decision by a magistrate’s court to lock him out of office pending determination of a Sh588 million graft case.
In her ruling, Justice Grace Ngenye Macharia dismissed Waititu’s plea seeking to be allowed to access his office despite the county boss facing graft charges in court.
According to the judge, the magistrate’s court rightly imposed the conditions given the grave charges facing Waititu.
“He shall only be allowed to go back to office to pick his belonging in the presence of investigating officer from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission,”ordered the judge.
Justice Macharia also declined to review the Sh15 million cash bail granted to Waititu.
She ruled that allowing the governor and his co-accused to access county offices would be “a mockery to the Constitution.”
“In as much as Waititu remains innocent until proven guilty, it would be a mockery to the people of Kiambu if he is allowed to continue working from his office considering the charges he is facing,” said the judge.
She noted that the bail terms granted by the lower court were reasonable against the governor, as charges against him are grave and require stringent bail terms.
