Ferdinand Waititu Close To Securing Freedom After Latest Court Ruling

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is now closer to walking free after accepting the court’s decision on his bond terms.

During Tuesday’s session, Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi upheld his existing bond conditions in the offensive conduct case but stressed that he must first meet the High Court’s requirement of a Ksh53 million financial guarantee before release.

The former governor is therefore expected to lodge a Ksh53 million bank guarantee for the offensive conduct file, while his hate speech bond terms remain unchanged.

Waititu told the court he has already secured someone to post the guarantee for him. "This court has no objection to the defendant being released on earlier issued bond terms, subject to his complying with the other terms of the bond issued by the court," Magistrate Ndombi said.

Once the money is deposited, he will remain out on bond as his hate speech conditions continue to apply. The case will return to court on January 15, 2026.

This decision comes weeks after the High Court dismissed his third attempt to have the Ksh53 million bond terms altered to allow cash deposits instead. Justice Lucy Njuguna threw out the request, saying such a change would stall progress in the case.

“I will not vary those orders… You placed material that persuaded me, and I was gracious enough to grant those orders,” she said, adding that the 120 days she offered for compliance begin immediately and that no fresh applications should be filed as the focus shifts to the appeal.

Waititu was convicted in February for failing to protect public funds after allegedly pocketing Ksh25 million from a company tied to an unlawful tender.

He was ordered to pay Ksh53.5 million or serve 12 years in prison, a sentence he has been serving while pursuing a bond review.

His wife, Susan Wangari, was also fined Ksh500,000 in the ruling delivered by Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki.

The pair was found guilty of fraud and conflict of interest in a Ksh588 million graft case linked to a 2018 road tender awarded during Waititu’s time as governor.

On September 16, the High Court again rejected his bid to review the 12-year jail term. Justice Njuguna upheld the sentence and ordered the appeal to be expedited within 120 days, warning that unnecessary delays from the defence could lead to the appeal being struck out.