Waititu, wife and co-accused headed back to prison as High Court upholds Sh588 million graft conviction
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is headed back to prison after the High Court upheld his conviction and sentence in a Sh588.7 million corruption case involving the irregular award of a road construction tender in Kiambu County.
Justice Rose Ougo of the Milimani Anti-Corruption High Court dismissed appeals by Waititu and his co-accused, affirming the convictions, prison terms and financial penalties imposed by the trial court.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the judge ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found no legal basis to interfere with the sentences.
The ruling also cancelled the bond terms that had allowed Waititu and co-accused Luka Mwangi Wahinya to remain out of custody pending the determination of their appeals, directing that they be remanded at Nairobi Remand Prison.
Justice Ougo upheld the 10-year disqualification from holding public office imposed on the convicted persons under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
“The fines imposed by the court under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, being mandatory fines, were properly imposed,” she ruled.
Waititu was sentenced in February 2025 to 12 years in prison or a fine of Sh52,749,000 after being convicted of conflict of interest and dealing with suspect property.
Wahinya received a seven-year prison term or a Sh21 million fine for abuse of office, while Charles Chege, a director of Testimony Enterprises Limited, was sentenced to 11 years or a fine of Sh297,048,110.
In a separate development, Justice Ougo allowed the prosecution’s cross-appeal challenging the acquittals of Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangari, and other co-accused on money laundering charges.
The judge set aside the acquittals and entered convictions against them, directing that the matter be returned to the Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate’s Court for mitigation and sentencing.
Wangari was ordered held at Lang’ata Women’s Prison pending the proceedings, while the court directed that the additional sentences for money laundering run concurrently with those already imposed under the anti-corruption law.
The case arose from a disputed road construction tender in Kiambu County and involved charges including fraud, conflict of interest, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property and money laundering.
Waititu and his co-accused were first arraigned on July 19, 2019, and subsequently challenged their convictions and penalties, including the legality of the fines and default prison terms.
The High Court’s decision leaves the original convictions and sentences intact while paving the way for sentencing on the additional money laundering convictions.
The parties were also informed of their right to appeal to the Court of Appeal within 14 days.
