Waititu free after securing Sh53million bank guarantee
Ex-governor made a fresh appeal after he was allowed by the court to introduce new evidence and additional grounds in support of his case
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison or pay Sh 52.3 million, is now a free man after securing a Sh53 million bank guarantee as he awaits the hearing of his appeal.
The Farmers Party leader, who was jailed in February after being found guilty in a graft case, together with his wife and three others, received relief after High Court Judge Lucy Njuguna granted him a bond, having previously declined his plea twice.
This was after Waititu, who spend 167 days behind bars, made a fresh appeal after he was allowed by the court to introduce new evidence and additional grounds in support of his case.
The court allowed the amendment, giving him a renewed opportunity to argue for his release as he continues to appeal against the conviction.
The former governor had been sentenced to 12 years in prison or to pay a fine of Sh52.5 million after being found guilty of conflict of interest about the Sh588 million graft case.
His wife, Susan Ndung’u, was sentenced to one year in prison or ordered to pay a fine of Sh500,000.
Their co-accused, Testimony Enterprises Limited director Charles Chege, was sentenced to nine years in prison or to pay a fine of Sh295 million, while Beth Wangeci, the company’s second director, was sentenced to one year in prison or to pay a fine of Sh1 million.
The court convicted both on graft-related charges but acquitted them on three counts of money laundering.
Waititu was also barred from contesting any political seat for seven years.
The money in question arose from procurement tenders meant for the construction of roads within Kiambu County.
Earlier, Waititu had filed an appeal before the High Court challenging his conviction. However, his initial request for bail was rejected, with the court assuring him that the appeal would be heard expeditiously.
