Ferdinand Waititu
Ferdinard Ndungu Waititu, also known as Baba Yao, is a Kenyan politician who served as the second governor of Kiambu County from 2017 to January 2020. He was impeached on corruption charges. His troubles started after it was learnt he was involved in a scheme of grabbing land from a widow worth over one million dollars amongst other fraudulent activities. He is currently awaiting trial for the mismanagement of county fund of over five million dollars. He also served as an assistant minister for Water Services and Irrigation in the government of Kenya.
Ferdinard Ndungu Waititu aka Baba Yao | |
|---|---|
| Former Governor of Kiambu County, Kenya[1] | |
| In office 22 August 2017 – 19 Dec 2019 Acting Governor since 19/12/2019 Dr. James Karanja Nyoro | |
| Former Governor Kiambu County | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1962 Kibera, Nairobi |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Political party | Jubilee Party of Kenya |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Ndung’u |
| Children | 3 |
Following graft charges leveled against him, Waititu was Impeached and lost his seat as the Governor of Kiambu County on January 29, 2020 through a trial by the Kenya Senate despite intense lobbying by some members of parliament.
In August 2017 Waititu was elected as the Jubilee Party Nominee for Governor position in Kiambu County after defeating the incumbent Governor of Kiambu County Hon. William Kabogo[2]
Education
Waititu completed his secondary school in 1981 from Dagoretti High School, where he obtained the Kenya Certificate of Education. He then proceeded to Technical University of Kenya, formerly known as the Kenya Polytechnic, before proceeding to Punjab, India, where he obtained a degree in commerce from Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce in 1991.
Social/political life
He is described as a "fiery politician" and has been arrested on several occasions, including for "hate speech" directed against ethnic Maasai and for protesting the demolition of shanty houses in his district.[3] In September 2012 he was suspended from his government post over charges of hate speech and inciting violence.[4] In 2014 the High court ruled that Waititu is unfit to hold public office due to integrity issues. In 2015 he was elected MP.
He is often referred to as 'Baba yao' (Kiswahili for 'Their father'). He lost the Nairobi gubernatorial election to Dr. Evans Kidero in March 2013. Fedinard Waititu however found a way back to active politics on 4 May 2015 after winning a seat as a member of parliament for Kabete through a by election following death of the area MP George Muchai who was murdered in the streets of Nairobi. The landslide win united him with his long term political friend Mike Sonko but in different fields of politics. However, he officially announced to run for gubernatorial seat for Kiambu to battle it out with Governor William Kabogo come next general elections. He won the gubernatorial election for Kiambu county defeating William Kabogo. He served as Kiambu County governor from 2017 until 2020 when he was impeached on corruption charges. In 2021, he declared that he would for gubernatorial seat for Nairobi County once again.
References
- "List of elected Governors in August 8th Election" (PDF). Capital FM Kenya. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- "Waititu wins Kiambu seat with 353,604 votes against Kabogo's 69,916". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
- "Kenya MP Ferdinand Waititu accused of 'hate speech'". BBC News Africa. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- "Kenya MP Ferdinand Waititu charged with hate speech". BBC News Africa. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.