- Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu freed on Ksh53 million bond after 5 months in jail
- He is appealing a sentence linked to a Ksh588 million corruption case
- The High Court approved his release pending appeal, citing health concerns
- Waititu had been barred from public office for a decade
- His wife, Susan Wangare, was also fined in the same case
Ferdinand Waititu, once a major figure in Central Kenya politics, has been released from prison after the High Court granted him bond. He had been serving time following his conviction in a multimillion-shilling corruption case involving shady tender deals during his time as Kiambu Governor in 2018.
The court allowed his release on a Ksh53 million bond, paving the way for him to pursue an appeal against the jail term issued earlier this year.
Waititu’s appeal, which had stalled earlier, gained new momentum after he was granted permission to amend it in April. This legal clearance enabled his renewed application for bond. He cited ongoing health issues such as chest pains and high blood pressure, arguments the court had dismissed earlier but now considered in his favour.
In February 2025, the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court handed Waititu a 12-year sentence: 5 years or Ksh2.5 million fine for direct involvement in corruption Mandatory Ksh51 million fine or 7 more years in default, linked to illegal tender deals
The court found that he had improperly influenced the awarding of tenders worth over half a billion shillings. Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki condemned his actions as a violation of public trust and barred him from seeking or holding public office for ten years.
Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangare, wasn’t spared in the judgment. She was fined Ksh500,000 or ordered to serve one year in prison. The sentence was to run concurrently, as she was found to have played a role in the tendering irregularities.
This is not the first time Waititu has faced legal and political fire. Back in 2019, he was impeached by the Kiambu County Assembly, where 63 MCAs voted to remove him over gross misconduct and corruption. The motion was brought forward by Ndenderu MCA Solomon Kinuthia.
With his release secured, the focus now shifts to the outcome of his appeal. The High Court’s decision will determine whether Waititu’s conviction will stand nd could ultimately decide whether his political career is officially over or gets a second chance.
