Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has taken control of a new political party, the Farmers Party.
A gazette notice issued on February 14 by Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu confirmed that Waititu is now the official party leader, succeeding Irungu Nyakera, who currently chairs the Board of Directors at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Waititu will be deputized by John Wambugu, who will oversee policy and strategy, while Nicholas Ikui will serve as the Deputy Party Leader responsible for resource mobilization.
The Registrar of Political Parties has invited the public to submit any objections regarding the leadership changes within seven days.
“Any individual with written submissions concerning the intended changes by the political party should present them to the Registrar of Political Parties within seven (7) days from the date of this publication,” the notice read.
The Farmers Party offices are situated on the 5th floor of Delta House along Lenana Road, Nairobi.
Waititu’s assumption of party leadership comes shortly after his conviction in a Ksh588 million corruption case.
On February 13, Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki of the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court sentenced him to 12 years in prison or a Ksh52.5 million fine. The court determined that Waititu unlawfully profited from public funds, including Ksh25.6 million channeled through a company linked to him.
As part of the ruling, Waititu, his wife Susan Ndung’u, and their co-accused were barred from holding public office for ten years.
Susan Ndung’u was handed a one-year prison sentence or an alternative fine of Ksh500,000.
