Kenya’s High Court has ordered the forfeiture of assets worth Sh76.2 million linked to former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Ndungu Waititu, in a ruling that highlights the country’s ongoing battle against corruption.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Nixon Sifuna on Friday, targeted properties and movable assets that Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari could not adequately explain. Among the confiscated items are two parcels of land in Thindigua, each valued at Sh32 million, a Caterpillar construction tractor, and two vehicles — a Toyota Probox and a Toyota Vitz.
The court also directed the recovery of a Sh3 million plot registered under Wangari’s name, citing inconsistencies in how the couple acquired the properties. The High Court described the assets as “unexplained wealth” under Kenya’s anti-corruption laws.
The ruling stems from a civil suit filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in May 2022. The commission alleged that Waititu amassed wealth far beyond his legitimate earnings, spanning his time as Kabete MP (2015–2017) and Kiambu governor (2017–2020). EACC officials have estimated the total unexplained wealth at Sh1.9 billion.
Waititu and his wife had argued that their properties were acquired through legitimate business dealings and loans. But the court found their explanations insufficient for the assets now ordered forfeited. Notably, the court declined to seize funds in their bank accounts, citing a lack of evidence linking the money to corruption.
The ruling follows Waititu’s earlier conviction in February 2025 on conflict-of-interest charges tied to a Sh588 million graft case, which resulted in a 12-year prison sentence or Sh52.5 million fine for him and a one-year jail term or Sh500,000 fine for his wife.
The EACC praised the judgment as a “significant step in recovering public resources and reinforcing accountability,” while some critics noted that only a fraction of Waititu’s alleged wealth has been reclaimed.
