Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has walked out of prison after the High Court ordered his release on bond, nearly six months after he was jailed over a corruption case involving Ksh588 million.
The court granted Waititu a bond of Ksh53 million as he pursues an appeal against his conviction. This decision allows him to remain out of prison as the High Court reviews his case.
Waititu had been sentenced earlier this year to serve 12 years in jail after being found guilty of irregularly awarding county tenders while he was the Kiambu Governor in 2018.
He had the option of serving five years in prison or paying a KSh2.5 million fine. On top of that, he was slapped with a mandatory fine of Ksh51 million, or face an additional seven years behind bars.
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In his appeal, Waititu claimed that the trial court had made serious mistakes in how it handled his case. He also cited worsening health, including chest pains and high blood pressure, as reasons for his release.
Despite those concerns, he had remained in custody for months, first at Industrial Area Remand Prison before being moved to another facility.
Back in April, the High Court gave him the green light to amend his appeal and allowed him to adjust his request for bail, which eventually led to his release.
Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangare, who was also implicated in the case, was ordered by the lower court to either pay a Ksh500,000 fine or serve a one-year prison sentence. Her punishment was to run concurrently.
At the time of sentencing, Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki noted that Waititu’s actions as a public official were serious and could not be ignored. The magistrate said the former governor’s behavior weakened public trust and went against the principles of good governance.
The High Court will now begin examining the strength of Waititu’s appeal to determine whether his conviction should stand or be overturned.
By Creatorhub