By Were Kelly
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been released from prison after the High Court granted him freedom on a Ksh53 million bond, ending his five-month incarceration stemming from a Ksh588 million graft case.
The former governor, once a powerful political figure in Central Kenya, had been jailed earlier this year after being convicted of corruption and abuse of office linked to irregular tender awards during his tenure in 2018.
Waititu is now free pending the outcome of an appeal he filed challenging his conviction. The High Court had earlier, on April 23, given him leave to amend his appeal, a key legal step that enabled his fresh application for bond to succeed.
In his appeal, Waititu cited deteriorating health—chest pains and high blood pressure—as part of his argument for release. Despite these claims being dismissed earlier, the court has now allowed him to remain out of custody as it considers the merits of his case.
Back in February 2025, the Milimani Anti-Graft Court sentenced Waititu to 12 years in prison—five years or a fine of Ksh2.5 million for his direct role in corruption, and an additional mandatory fine of Ksh51 million or seven more years in prison in default. The court found he unlawfully influenced the award of tenders worth hundreds of millions during his time in office.
In a scathing verdict, Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki held that Waititu’s conduct “undermined the tenets of good governance,” barring him from holding public office for 10 years.
Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangare, was also caught in the dragnet. She was fined Ksh500,000 or ordered to serve one year in jail, with the court directing the sentence to run concurrently.
This is not Waititu’s first brush with scandal. His troubles date back to 2019, when he was impeached by 63 Members of the Kiambu County Assembly over similar allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and gross misconduct. The impeachment motion was tabled by Ndenderu MCA Solomon Kinuthia, who accused the governor of operating a shadowy and corrupt administration.
As the legal saga continues, all eyes now turn to the High Court to determine whether Waititu’s conviction will be upheld or overturned—a decision that could define his political fate once and for all.
