Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu on Tuesday pleaded afresh to the Sh588 million graft case.
Waititu was charged afresh after the charge sheet was amended to include an additional charge and new evidence.
Waititu is facing a new charge of dealing with public property through his company, Saika Two Estate Limited.
The former county chief, his wife Susan Wangari and their nine co-accused denied the charges before Magistrate Thomas Nzioki.
The Director of Public Prosecutions informed the court they have lined up 45 witnesses but the numbers may come down.
The case has been allocated 32 days for hearing next year beginning March 14.
Two members of the Tender committee, Beatrice Waithera and Dennis Thuku, and Samuel Karanja from ICT department will be called as witnesses during the said hearing dates.
The tender for the roads project that led to Waititu's arraignment was issued on February 12 and awarded to Testimony Enterprise owned by Charles Chege and Beth Mburu after quoting Sh588 million.
It is alleged that between July 2 last year and March this year at Kiambu county, Waititu knowingly acquired an indirect private interest of Sh25.6 million.
This is in respect to payments made to Testimony Enterprises Limited for contracts awarded to the said company by Kiambu.
He faced another count together with his wife and a company they co-founded called Bienvenue Delta hotel.
It is alleged that between October 3, 2018 and January 2019, the two proprietors jointly received Sh7.2 million from the company while having reason to believe that the said amount was acquired from Kiambu county through corrupt conduct.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
