An Anti-Corruption court has sentenced a former governor to jail after being found guilty in a case against him. Former Nyandarua County Governor Daniel Waithaka Mwangi has been sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of Ksh1 million after being found guilty of procurement irregularities.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in a statement on Thursday, March 20, said that the verdict was delivered at the Nyahururu Anti-Corruption Courts.
Waithaka was sentenced alongside Grace Wanjiru Gitonga, the former County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Water, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources.
According to ODPP, Gitonga also received a sentence of two years or a Ksh1 million fine.
“Waithaka was sentenced to two years in prison or a Ksh500,000 fine for willfully failing to comply with procurement laws, and another two years or Ksh500,000 fine for abuse of office,” read part of the statement.
“Chief Magistrate Hezekiah Keago ruled that the sentences would run concurrently if Waithaka fails to pay the imposed fine.”
On her part, former CEC member Grace Gitonga was sentenced to two years or a Ksh500,000 fine for engaging in a project without prior planning.
She was also given another two-year sentence or a Ksh500,000 fine for willfully failing to comply with procurement laws.
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Like former Governor Waithaka, the former CEC member’s sentences will run concurrently if the fine is not paid.
Case against Nyandarua Governor
The court heard that on April 30, 2014, both defendants, in their capacity as public officers responsible for managing public property, violated the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2006.
“They unlawfully procured the services of M/s TAHAL Consulting Engineers Limited without a procurement plan for the 2013/2014 financial year, contrary to Section 26(3)(a) of the Act,” said ODPP.
Additionally, the court found that on or about April 4, 2014, Waithaka improperly used his office to confer a benefit on M/s TAHAL Consulting Engineers Limited.
The ex-Nyandarua County boss awarded the company a contract for the development of the County Water Master Plan and the design review of the Ol Kalou Town Sewerage System without following the required procurement procedures.
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Waithaka is the third governor in the past two years to be convicted on graft charges, joining former Samburu County Governor Moses Lenolkulaal and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
Other Governors who have been sentenced
Lenolkulal was in 2024 sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling more than Ksh83 million from his county’s funds over a fuel supply tender.
On his part, Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari were sentenced to prison after they were convicted on corruption charges relating to the Ksh588 million road tender.
Millimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki on Thursday, February 13 sentenced Waititu to twelve years in jail or a fine of Ksh53.5 million.
The sentencing came after the former governor was on Wednesday convicted alongside his wife, former Kiambu County Roads Chief Officer Luka Mwangi Wahinya, and businessman Charles Mbuthia Chege alongside his wife Beth Wangechi after being found guilty of a corruption scheme to defraud the county government of millions of shillings.
The court also barred Waititu, his wife, and the co-accused from holding any public office for 10 years.
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