Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been dealt another painful blow after the High Court threw out his latest bid to overturn a 12-year jail sentence. Justice Lucy Njuguna ruled that the application lacked merit, saying the disgraced county boss had given no new grounds to justify his release.
The decision, quickly highlighted by the ODPP on social media, sparked wild reactions from Kenyans online. Many celebrated the move, with some cheekily suggesting that CS Wycliffe Oparanya, who is also battling graft cases, should be “next in line” for a similar fate. See ODPP update here.
Waititu, popularly known as “Baba Yao,” was convicted in February 2025 for corruptly awarding a Sh588 million road tender in Kiambu County. The court found that he pocketed Sh25 million through Testimony Enterprises Limited, the company that secured the contract.
His wife Susan Ndung’u and directors Charles Chege and Beth Wangeci were also found guilty, though they walked away with lighter fines and shorter sentences.
On Valentine’s Day, Waititu was slapped with a 12-year term or an alternative fine of Sh53.5 million. Unable to raise the money, he was bundled into Kamiti Maximum Prison, where he has remained despite numerous attempts to regain freedom. Even when he briefly secured release in July through a hefty bank guarantee, the former governor was quickly sent back to prison after breaching strict bond terms.
The ODPP, represented by Faith Mwila and Mercy Mungai, strongly opposed his fresh plea, warning that letting him off the hook would undermine public trust in the fight against corruption. Justice Njuguna agreed, stressing that economic crimes must carry heavy consequences. She directed that Waititu’s appeal be heard within 120 days, with the first mention slated for October 1.
By Newshub