Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who has been serving a prison sentence following his conviction in a Sh588 million graft case, has been released on a bond secured by a Sh53 million bank guarantee pending the outcome of his appeal.
Waititu, who was convicted in February, breathed a sigh of relief after High Court Judge Lucy Njuguna granted him bond, having previously declined his plea twice.
Waititu was represented by lawyer John Swaka.
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.
In a fresh application, Waititu sought to amend his petition to introduce new evidence and additional grounds in support of his case.
The court allowed the amendment, giving Waititu 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 in relation to the Sh588 million graft case.
Waititu was also barred from contesting any political seat for a period of seven years.
His wife, Susan Ndung’u, was sentenced to one year in prison or ordered to pay a fine of Sh500,000. The court convicted both on graft-related charges but acquitted them on three counts of money laundering.
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 money in question arose from procurement tenders meant for the construction of roads within Kiambu County.
