Former Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of procurement violations.
The Chief Magistrate, Hezekiah Keago, delivered the ruling at the Nyahururu Anti-Corruption Courts on Thursday.
Waithaka has the option to pay a fine of Sh1 million instead of serving time.
The charges stemmed from the violation of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2006. Waithaka was found guilty on two counts.
The first charge, related to procurement misconduct, resulted in a two-year sentence or a Sh500,000 fine.
He was also found guilty of abuse of office, which led to an additional two-year sentence or another Sh500,000 fine. If Waithaka chooses to pay the fines, the sentences will run concurrently.
Grace Wanjiru Gitonga, former County Executive for Water, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources, was also convicted in connection with the same case.
Gitonga was sentenced to two years or a Sh500,000 fine for failing to plan a project properly. Another two-year sentence or a Sh500,000 fine was imposed for breaching procurement regulations.
The case dates back to April 30, 2014, when both Waithaka and Gitonga approved the services of M/s TAHAL Consulting Engineers Limited without following proper procurement procedures.
Waithaka further violated the law by awarding the company a contract for the development of the County Water Master Plan and the design review of the Ol Kalou Town Sewerage System without the necessary approvals.
This conviction has caught public attention as Waithaka becomes the third governor in the last two years to face corruption charges.
He joins former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulaal and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, both of whom were also convicted on similar charges.