Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Charles Chege, Susan Wangari, and Beth Wangeci appear for the mitigation hearing in the money laundering case at Milimani anti-corruption court, Nairobi on October 27, 2026. They are set to appear on November 2, 2026 for sentencing/LEAH MUKANGAI

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s wife Susan Wangari has told the court that she was a “silent partner” in a companies linked to the Sh588 million tender that led to her conviction.

Wangari’s lawyer Chris Mutuku told Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa that his client had no role in the affairs of Testimony Enterprises, one of the companies cited in the case, apart from signing the initial incorporation documents.

“She informs me that she was a silent partner. Beside the fact that she signed the initial forms in corporation to the company subject to this sentencing, she has no hand to play in any affairs of that corporation,” Mutuku submitted.

The lawyer was making mitigation submissions as the court considers the sentence to be imposed on Wangari and Waititu following their money laundering conviction in the Sh588 million graft case.

Wangari argued that she was neither a signatory nor a decision-maker in the companies involved in the tender and had not been shown to have directly or indirectly benefited financially from the transactions.

“No evidence has been adduced showing that she directly or indirectly received any financial gaining on this matter, made any decision respecting flow of funds in subject matter of the proceedings. She stands accused because she happens to be a partner found to be culpable,” her lawyer lawyer submitted.

He described Wangari’s position as one where she had been drawn into the case because of her association with the company, stating, “Crucifixion is by association, that's why she finds herself in the difficult position she is in.”

The lawyer urged the court to consider her limited role when determining the appropriate sentence.

During the mitigation hearing, Mutuku also argued that the process leading to the award of the tender had been faulted rather than evidence showing that public funds were lost.

“What has been faulted is the process leading to the award of the tender,” the lawyer submitted.

He urged the court to consider an audit report produced by the State during the trial, which he said showed that no funds were lost in the transaction.

The submissions came after the High Court overturned the earlier acquittal of Waititu and his wife found them guilty of the money laundering charges arising from the case.

The High Court subsequently directed that the matter be placed before the anti-corruption Chief Magistrate’s Court for mitigation and sentencing.

Other convicts in the case include Testimony Enterprises director Charles Mbuthia and his wife Beth Wangeci.

The court also heard mitigation submissions concerning Wangeci, with the court being told that she is a young mother and the breadwinner in her family with minor children.

Mutuku asked the court to take into account the circumstances of each accused person and the purpose of punishment when determining the sentences.

He argued that the sentence should take into consideration the need to rehabilitate the convicts, while also noting that the accused persons had already been subjected to heavy financial penalties, including one exceeding Sh50 million.

The accused persons will remain in custody as they await sentencing on November 2, 2026.