Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangari, has been allowed to have her mobile phone, held by authorities at Lang’ata Women’s Prison, released to her daughter.
The order was issued on Thursday after Wangari’s lawyer told the court that the phone had been in her possession when she was taken into custody following her conviction by the High Court in a money-laundering case.
The lawyer asked the court to allow the device to be released to either Wangari’s children or another person, arguing that it was not an exhibit in any investigation and was needed to facilitate the running of her business.
He later clarified that the phone was not intended to be handed directly to Wangari but to her daughter, Monica Njeri.
State prosecutor Vincent Monda did not oppose the application, advising the defence to liaise with the authorities at Lang’ata Women’s Prison to facilitate the release.
The court subsequently directed that the phone be released to Njeri.
Wangari was present in court alongside her husband and their co-accused, Charles Chege Mbuthia, during proceedings in the money-laundering case.
The court appearance also saw the matter adjourned to October 27, 2026, for further orders as the parties await directions from the High Court on the persons who should undergo mitigation and sentencing.
Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa said the matter had been remitted to his court following the judgment delivered by the High Court on October 14, 2026.
However, before the sentencing hearing could commence, the prosecution and defence expressed differing views on the persons who should be subject to the proceedings.
“Having considered the issues raised, this court deemed it prudent to place a file before the High Court through the Deputy Registrar for Directions,” Magistrate Barasa directed.
The dispute over sentencing follows an earlier decision by the trial court to acquit the accused on the money-laundering charges, which the prosecution subsequently challenged before the High Court.
The High Court overturned the acquittals and convicted the accused, paving the way for the matter to return to the magistrate’s court for mitigation and sentencing.
However, the latest proceedings have been delayed pending clarification on the persons to be sentenced following the High Court judgment.
The magistrate has since directed that the matter be mentioned on October 27, 2026, for further orders and an update on the implementation of the High Court’s directions, including those on mitigation.