Court rejects former Kiambu boss Waititu's second bail request
As a result of the court's ruling, Waititu and his two co-accused will remain in custody.
The High Court has rejected former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s second bid for bail while his appeal on a corruption case is pending.
In a ruling issued on Thursday, May 8, Justice Lucy Njuguna stated that the application lacked merit, leading to its dismissal.
"I am not convinced by the present application. For the reasons provided, this court firmly believes the application is without merit and, as such, it is dismissed," Justice Njuguna stated.
As a result of the court's ruling, Waititu and his two co-accused will remain in custody until their appeal in the Ksh588 million corruption case is heard.
Justice Njuguna's decision to reject Waititu's bail application comes just a month after she dismissed a similar plea from the former governor's defense team.
On March 26, the judge ruled against the request, citing the applicant's failure to convince the court of the high likelihood of success for his appeal.
Additionally, Justice Njuguna denied a separate request from Waititu's legal team, which argued for his release due to concerns about his health condition.
Justice Njuguna ruled in March that the applicants failed to satisfy the criteria for bail, thus dismissing their applications.
Waititu has been incarcerated at Kamiti Prison since being found guilty by Anti-Graft Court Magistrate Thomas Nzioki in a case involving a conflict of interest and the illegal receipt of millions through a corrupt road tender.
In a ruling handed down on February 13, Justice Nzioka sentenced the former Kiambu Governor to 12 years in prison, with an alternative of paying a fine of Sh53 million.
Waititu was sentenced alongside his wife, Susan Waititu, and a contractor.
The court also ordered Susan to either pay a fine of Shh500,000 or serve a one-year prison sentence.
In delivering the judgment, the magistrate highlighted that Waititu's actions were unforgivable, as they eroded the principles of good governance.
The sentencing came after a successful application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).