Waititu’s Third Attempt to Alter Ksh 588M Bond Dismissed by High Court

The High Court has rejected former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s request to revise his bond terms, confirming his continued detention at Kamiti Maximum Prison.

Waititu had asked the court to replace a Ksh53.5 million bank guarantee with a cash deposit, arguing that commercial banks had refused to issue the guarantee due to his inability to meet their conditions. His application was dismissed by Justice Lucy Njuguna, who ruled that the court had already granted sufficient leniency by allowing a 120-day period to meet the original bond requirements.

“I will not vary those orders,” said Justice Njuguna. “Honestly, I did the best I could based on the material placed before me.” She confirmed that the 120-day window takes effect immediately and warned that no further applications for bond variation would be accepted. The court will now proceed with the pending appeal.

Waititu was convicted in February of unlawfully receiving Ksh25 million from a company after an irregular tender award. He was given the option to either pay a substantial fine or serve a 12-year prison sentence. Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki, who delivered the ruling, described Waititu’s actions as a serious breach of public trust.

The case also involved Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangare, who was fined Ksh500,000 or face a one-year jail term. Her conviction highlighted the involvement of close family members in the corruption case, which has been under investigation since Waititu was removed from office in 2019.

This was Waititu’s third attempt to have his bond terms revised, a point noted by Justice Njuguna, who cited the need to maintain judicial efficiency and finality in court decisions.