Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is on the precipice of freedom, but a hefty KSh 53 million bank guarantee stands between him and release from custody. In a recent court session, Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi reaffirmed the existing bond terms in his offensive conduct case, unequivocally stating that the High Court’s financial condition must be met before he can walk free.
Waititu, who has been serving a 12-year sentence since February for failing to safeguard public funds, informed the court that arrangements are already underway for a third party to deposit the guarantee on his behalf. “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 declared, emphasizing the court’s adherence to established legal procedures.
The former governor’s legal woes comes from a conviction in February for irregularly receiving KSh 25 million from a company following an unlawful tender award. He was ordered to either pay a fine of KSh 53.5 million or serve 12 years in prison. His appeals have consistently focused on the bond requirements, which he has described as excessively burdensome.
This latest ruling follows several unsuccessful attempts by Waititu to secure more lenient bond terms. Earlier this month, Justice Lucy Njuguna rejected his third bid to replace the KSh 53 million bank guarantee with a cash deposit. Justice Njuguna firmly stated that granting such a request would only serve to slow down the case, adding, “I will not vary those orders. Honestly, I did the best I could based on the material placed before me. You placed material that persuaded me, and I was gracious enough to grant those orders.” She further emphasized that the 120-day compliance period she had previously granted began immediately, and no further fresh applications should be made, urging a focus on the appeal to expedite its resolution.
Once the KSh 53 million guarantee is deposited, Waititu will be released under the original bond conditions, while his separate hate speech case will continue to proceed. The next hearing for his case is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
