WAITITU EXONERATED

Ex- Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been released from prison after securing a Sh53 million bond as he awaits the outcome of his appeal against a corruption conviction.

Waititu had been behind bars since February 2025 following his sentencing over a Sh588 million graft case, where he was found guilty of conflict of interest in road construction tenders during his tenure as governor. The court had slapped him with a 12-year jail term or an alternative fine of Sh52.5 million.

After two unsuccessful attempts to secure bail, Waititu finally caught a break when High Court Judge Lucy Njuguna granted his bond application. His previous bids had been turned down, with the court promising to expedite the hearing of his appeal instead.

The turning point came when Waititu filed a fresh application seeking to revise his initial petition. He requested the court's permission to introduce new grounds and evidence, arguing that they were vital for a fair hearing. Justice Njuguna allowed the amendments, giving him a new opportunity to contest the conviction.

The corruption case that landed the former governor in prison also implicated his wife, Susan Ndung’u, and directors of a company linked to the scandal—Testimony Enterprises Limited. Ndung’u received a one-year prison sentence or a fine of Sh500,000. The court, however, acquitted the couple on three counts related to money laundering.

Charles Chege, a director at the company, was sentenced to nine years in prison or ordered to pay a hefty Sh295 million fine. His co-director, Beth Wangeci, faced a one-year jail term or a Sh1 million fine.

The charges stemmed from irregular tender awards for road construction projects in Kiambu County, which investigators claimed were marred by corruption and conflict of interest.

As the appeal process unfolds, Waititu is temporarily free but remains barred from holding any public office for the next seven years—a significant political blow for the once-influential leader.