Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, popularly known as Baba Yao, has experienced a dramatic fall from political power following a corruption case that has cost him his freedom, millions of shillings and hopes of returning to elective politics.
Waititu once enjoyed considerable influence in Kenyan politics, building a reputation as an energetic politician with strong mobilisation skills.However, his political journey took a different turn after allegations of corruption linked to a Sh588 million road construction tender awarded by the Kiambu County Government.
His troubles became public in December 2019 when the Kiambu County Assembly impeached him over allegations surrounding the tender.
The Senate subsequently upheld his removal, bringing his tenure as governor to an end and disrupting his political ambitions.
Before his downfall, Waititu had served as an assistant minister during the administration of former President Mwai Kibaki. He later entered elective politics, winning the Embakasi parliamentary seat in 2008 before losing the Nairobi gubernatorial contest in 2013.
His political fortunes improved in 2015 when he won the Kabete parliamentary seat. Two years later, he was elected governor of Kiambu County, defeating incumbent William Kabogo.
However, investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission into the road construction tender eventually led to criminal charges against Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari Ndung’u and several other individuals.In February 2025, the former governor was convicted of corruption related offences and sentenced to 12 years in prison, with an alternative fine of approximately KSh53.5 million.
The court found that he had received about KSh25.9 million in kickbacks through intermediaries.
His wife also received a prison sentence or an alternative fine in connection with the case.
The legal battle extended beyond the criminal proceedings, with the commission pursuing the recovery of assets it considered unexplained wealth.
In December 2025, a court ordered the forfeiture of property worth approximately KSh131 million linked to Waititu, his wife and associated businesses.
Waititu secured temporary freedom in March 2026 after the High Court reviewed his bail conditions, allowing him to provide KSh20 million in cash or property backed security while appealing his conviction.However, his hopes of overturning the conviction suffered another setback in October 2026 when the High Court upheld his conviction and sentence while overturning acquittals on money laundering charges.
The ruling marked another difficult chapter for the former governor, whose political career had once placed him among Kiambu’s most influential leaders.