The political world was met with surprise today as news broke that former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has "secured his freedom after the High Court ordered his release," nearly six months after his imprisonment. The former county boss, who was jailed over a "graft case involving Ksh588 million," was granted bail to allow him to "pursues an appeal against his conviction." The court set the bond at a substantial "Ksh53 million bond," a figure that reflects the gravity of the charges he faces.
The decision marks a significant turn in a legal battle that has been closely watched by the public. Waititu’s appeal hinges on his argument that "the trial court had erred in law and fact in reaching its verdict." His journey to this point has been a difficult one; earlier attempts to secure his release on health grounds, citing "chest pains and high blood pressure," had "proved futile," leaving him confined to remand at the Industrial Area prison before being later transferred. The High Court had, however, granted him leave to "amend his appeal" on "April 23," allowing him to revise his application and lay the groundwork for this latest ruling.
Waititu’s legal troubles stem from a series of convictions handed down in February of this year. He was "sentenced to 12 years in prison" and convicted of graft and misuse of office for "irregularly awarding tenders in Kiambu County in February 2018." The sentence included a choice between "5 years in jail or pay a fine of Ksh2.5 million," along with a "mandatory fine of Ksh51 million or, in default, another 7 years in prison." In addition to the prison term and fines, he was also "barred from holding public office for a period of 10 years." His wife, Susan Wangare, was also convicted and ordered to "pay a fine of Ksh500,000 or serve a sentence of one year in prison," with her terms running concurrently. The magistrate in the case, Thomas Nzioki, made it clear that Waititu's "conduct could not be forgiven since his acts undermined the tenets of good governance."
The saga adds another layer to a career already marked by controversy. It is worth noting that the "former Kiambu County boss was impeached" in "2019" after "63 Members of the County Assembly voted in favour of his removal," on accusations of "corrupt dealings, gross misconduct, and misuse of office." The High Court will now "consider the merits of the appeal," leaving the final outcome of this high-profile case yet to be determined.
