{{Short description|Kenyan politician}} {{Undisclosed paid|date=June 2025}} {{Use British English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ferdinard Ndūng'ū Waititū aka Baba Yao | image = | office1 = Governor of Kiambu County | term_start1 = 22 August 2017 | term_end1 = 19 Dec 2019 | predecessor1 = William Kabogo | successor1 = Dr James Nyoro | office2 = Member of Parliament | term_start2 = 2008 | term_end2 = 2013 | successor2 = | office3 = Councilor, Nairobi City Council | term_start3 = 2003 | term_end3 = 2007 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|1|1|df=y}} | birth_place = Kibera, Nairobi | spouse = Susan Ndūng'ū | children = 3 | alma_mater = Panjab University | website = | nickname = Baba Yao }}
'''Ferdinard Ndūng'ū Waititū''', also known as '''Baba Yao''', is a Kenyan politician who served as the second governor of Kiambu County from 2016 to January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GROUP |first=NTV KENYA-NATION MEDIA |title=NTV Kenya: From office to cell: former Kiambu governor Ferdinard Waititu in hot soup as high court denies him bail |url=https://ntvkenya.co.ke/nfm/from-office-to-cell-former-kiambu-governor-ferdinard-waititu-in-hot-soup-as-high-court-denies-him-bail/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=NTV Kenya |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was impeached on corruption charges. His troubles started after it was discovered that he was involved in a scheme of grabbing land worth over one million dollars from a widow, amongst other fraudulent activities. He is currently serving a 12-year jail term for the mismanagement of a county fund of over five million dollars. He also served as an assistant minister for Water Services and Irrigation in the government of Kenya.
Following graft charges leveled against him, Waititū 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, Waititū was elected as the Jubilee Party Nominee for Governor position in Kiambu County after defeating the incumbent Governor of Kiambu County Hon. William Kabogo<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017/04/26/waititu-wins-kiambu-seat-with-353604-votes-against-kabogos-69916_c1550534|title=Waititu wins Kiambu seat with 353,604 votes against Kabogo's 69,916|work=The Star, Kenya|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en}}</ref>
==Education==
Waititū completed his secondary school in 1981 from Dagoretti High School, where he obtained the Kenya Certificate of Education. He then proceeded to Rūirū High school for form 1~2 he did a junior secondary exam before proceeding to Dagoretti High for Form 3-4 then he proceeded to Technical University of Kenya, formerly known as the Kenya Polytechnic, before proceeding to Delhi, India, where he obtained a degree in commerce from Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gachie|first=Laban Thua|date=2020-07-13|title=Ferdinand Waititu Baba Yao - Former Governor Kiambu County, Biography|url=https://kenyanlife.com/hon-ferdinand-waititu/|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Kenyan Life|language=en-US}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19713466|title=Kenya MP Ferdinand Waititu accused of 'hate speech'|date=25 September 2012|work=BBC News Africa|accessdate=22 October 2012}}</ref> In September 2012, he was suspended from his government post over charges of hate speech and inciting violence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19751394|title=Kenya MP Ferdinand Waititu charged with hate speech|date=27 September 2012|work=BBC News Africa|accessdate=22 October 2012}}</ref> In 2014 the High Court ruled that Waititū was unfit to hold public office due to integrity issues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Petition 93 of 2016 - Kenya Law|url=http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/130940/|access-date=2021-05-23|website=kenyalaw.org}}</ref> In 2015, he was elected MP.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ruto|first=Japhet|title=Landslide victory for Ferdinand Waititu in Kabete by election|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/kenya/article/2000161068/landslide-victory-for-ferdinand-waititu-in-kabete-by-election|access-date=2021-05-23|website=The Standard|language=en}}</ref>
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. Ferdinand Waititū 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 the 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 the gubernatorial seat for Kiambu to battle it out with Governor William Kabogo the 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 again run for the gubernatorial seat in Nairobi County.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}{{update inline|date=June 2020}}
== Kiambu County Governor == In 2017, Waititū declared to run for the governor of Kiambu County under Jubilee Party. In the nominations held on 25 April, he beat the incumbent governor, William Kabogo, to become Jubilee's party flag bearer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waititu wins Kiambu seat with 353,604 votes against Kabogo's 69,916 |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017-04-26-waititu-wins-kiambu-seat-with-353604-votes-against-kabogos-69916/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref> In the elections held in August 2017, he emerged as the winner and was declared the next Governor of Kiambu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kinyua |first=Pharis |date=2017-08-09 |title=Kabogo concedes defeat as Waititu wins Kiambu governorship by a landslide |url=https://www.jamhuri-news.com/kabogo-concedes-defeat-as-waititu-wins-kiambu-governorship-by-a-landslide/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=JamhuriNews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> His reign was, however, short-lived. In January 2020, a motion to impeach him was tabled in the Senate, accusing him of abuse of office, awarding tenders to get kickbacks, and irregularly awarding tenders to himself and his wife, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Impeachment: Here are the charges against governor Waititu |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-01-28-impeachment-here-are-the-charges-against-governor-waititu/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty,<ref>{{Cite web |title="Not Guilty!" Governor Waititu Pleads as Senate Impeachment Inquiry Kicks Off {{!}} The Kenyan Parliament Website |url=http://www.parliament.go.ke/not-guilty-governor-waititu-pleads-senate-impeachment-inquiry-kicks |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=www.parliament.go.ke}}</ref> but on 30 January 2020, the Senate found him guilty and voted to kick him out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=January 30, 2020 |first=Thursday |date=2020-09-18 |title=Senate Speaker Lusaka gazettes Waititu's impeachment as Kiambu governor |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/news/senate-speaker-lusaka-gazettes-waititu-s-impeachment-as-kiambu-governor-2278472 |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref> His deputy governor, James Nyoro, succeeded him to become the third governor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Junior |first=Mireri |title=James Nyoro sworn in as Kiambu's third governor |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001358677/james-nyoro-sworn-in-as-kiambu-s-third-governor |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>
He appealed the Senate's decision in the high court, which also found him guilty and upheld the ruling to kick him out.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-24 |title=Blow for Waititu as High Court upholds his impeachment |url=https://www.pd.co.ke/news/blow-for-waititu-as-high-court-upholds-his-impeachment-115133/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=www.pd.co.ke |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Imprisonment== In February 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=It's 12 years in jail for Ferdinand Waititu! |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001511707/its-12-years-in-jail-for-ferdinand-waititu/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.standardmedia.co.ke |language=en-GB}}</ref> Ferdinand Waititū was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison or a fine of Sh53.7 million. He was found guilty of receiving Sh25.6 million in kickbacks related to a Sh588 million road tender scandal during his tenure as governor. Waititū, along with his wife Wangari Ndūng'ū, former Kiambu County Roads Chief Officer Eng. Luka Mwangi Wahinya, and businessman Charles Mbuthia Cege, was implicated in a fraudulent tender scheme involving upgrading roads in Kiambu County.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=Guilty: Court convicts Waititu, his wife in Sh588m graft case |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/guilty-court-convicts-waititu-his-wife-in-sh588m-graft-case-4923370 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref>
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) initiated investigations in 2019 following a tip-off about irregularities in the awarding of the tender. The investigation uncovered conflict of interest, fraud, and money laundering. In addition to his criminal conviction, the High Court froze Waititū's assets worth Sh1.9 billion on allegations they were acquired through public funds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=How Waititu was nailed: A deep dive into the Sh588 million Scandal |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001512324/how-waititu-was-nailed-a-deep-dive-into-the-sh-588-million-scandal |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.standardmedia.co.ke |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==References== <references />
==External links== * [http://www.kenya-today.com/news/revealed-hon-ferdinand-waititus-humble-background Interview with Ferdinand Waititu by Africa Today]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Waititu, Ferdinand}} Category:Living people Category:1962 births Category:Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) Category:Alumni of Dagoretti High School