A case where former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and 12 others are accused of an irregular award of a Sh588 million road tender failed to kick off on Monday after he failed to show up in court.
The court was told that the former county boss fell ill and collapsed at his home on Sunday night.
His lawyer John Swaka told trial Magistrate Alex Kombo that Waititu could not appear for trial because he was admitted to a city hospital.
He said his wife could also not show up in court because she is in hospital to take care of Waititu.
The court directed that the matter be mentioned on Tuesday June 6.
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It also requested to be furnished with Waititu’s medical documents to confirm the sickness.
Waititu was impeached as Kiambu Governor in January 2020.
The High Court had previously frozen 18 prime properties and seven motor vehicles belonging to Waititu pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The orders issued by Anti-Corruption Court judge Esther Maina restrained Waititu, his wife Susan Ndung’u and their companies from selling, transferring, or in any other way interfering with the properties and vehicles until the case is concluded.
Waititu is accused of fraudulently acquiring assets worth Sh1.94 billion between 2015 and 2020 in his capacity as governor and former legislator.
He is further accused of allegedly misappropriating public funds by issuing fraudulent procurement tenders to firms outsourced to offer services to the County Government of Kiambu.
EACC claims that once the payments for the fallacious contracts were made by Kiambu County, the contracted firms would forward the proceeds to a number of bank accounts and businesses registered under Waititu’s name and that of his wife.
