Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has suffered a setback after the High Court temporarily stopped him from disposing of assets and vehicles targeted by the antigraft agency in Sh1.9 billion recovery suit.
The properties said to have been acquired when he was MP for Kabete include two prime buildings on Biashara Street and a hotel on the same street all valued at Sh662 million.
Other properties in Kiambu and Kitengela have been registered in his wife's name while others have been registered in the name of his companies including Saika Two Estate Developers and Bins Management Services Ltd.
Justice Esther Maina in granting the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission the temporary order said she is convinced there is a 'prima facie' case made against Waititu.
Waititu was also barred from dealing with some seven motor vehicles worth Sh24 million pending the determination of the suit.
In the alternative, the Judge said he can deposit Sh24 million in an interest-earning account which is the current value of the vehicles so that they can retain the vehicles and have the sums deposited.
Waititu was further ordered to surrender the vehicles and log books within the next seven days failure to which the commission shall be at liberty to seize them.
They were also restrained from collecting income generated from Delta Hotel which is the fourth defendant in the case.
The matter will be mentioned on 24 May.
EACC filed the suit seeking to recover Sh1.9 billion worth of assets from former Waititu last year.
It says the former county boss acquired the assets through unexplained means.
His wealth, the commission says, is not commensurate to his known and legitimate sources of income at the time he held public office between 2015 and 2020.
The commission says during his stay in office, Waititu, his wife and companies associated with them amassed assets worth Sh1,937,709,376 through fictitious and fraudulent procurement contracts.
The commission listed Saika Two Estates Developers Limited, Bienvenue Delta Hotel and Bins Management Services Limited as the companies in question.
The commission said Waititu amassed Sh928,873,317 and his wife Sh282,871,658.
Some Sh906, 329, 068 went to Saika Two Estate Developers Limited, Bienvenue Delta Hotel got Sh56,924,332 while Bins Management Services Limited received Sh62,711,000.
In the suit, EACC says Waititu then used the ill-gotten proceeds to acquire five high-end vehicles, 15 properties and 3 multi-storey buildings within Nairobi to conceal the funds.
