NAIROBI, Kenya — Just when you thought the legal drama around former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was wrapping up, a new twist: the High Court has given him the green light to amend his petition in a high-stakes bid to secure his release from prison.
Waititu, currently serving a 12-year sentence over a multi-million-shilling corruption scandal, has now been allowed to update his appeal with fresh evidence and new legal arguments.
It’s a significant move that could reshape his path to potential freedom—and possibly shake up how high-profile corruption appeals unfold in Kenya.
In 2023, Waititu was convicted on corruption-related charges involving a Sh588 million tender scandal—a case that riveted the nation and spotlighted Kenya’s ongoing fight against public sector graft. He was sentenced to either serve 12 years in prison or pay a hefty fine of Sh52.5 million.
The court also handed him a seven-year political ban, essentially blocking him from running for office in the foreseeable future.
Conflict of interest was at the center of the case, with allegations pointing to shady dealings that blurred the lines between public office and private gain.
Waititu wasn’t alone in the dock. His wife, Susan Ndung’u, was convicted alongside him and faced a one-year jail term or a fine of Sh500,000.
Initially, Waititu filed for bail as he awaited the outcome of his appeal. The High Court was clear in its response: not yet.
The judge declined the request but promised a swift hearing of the full appeal, signaling that due process would be followed.
Now, in what appears to be a legal curveball, Waititu returned to court seeking permission to amend his original petition.
The goal? Introduce new grounds and evidence that could strengthen his bid for release and poke holes in the original judgment.
The court agreed. That ruling reopens the door—at least a crack—for Waititu’s legal team to make a more compelling case in the coming weeks.
This latest development lands at a delicate time for Kenya’s anti-corruption drive. With high-profile figures like Waititu caught in the net, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and judiciary are under pressure to both demonstrate accountability and ensure fair, transparent proceedings.
If Waititu succeeds in getting bail—or even overturning the conviction—it could set a precedent for other convicted public officials looking for second chances.
With the court now allowing amendments to his petition, Waititu is back in the game—at least legally.
Whether this new evidence changes his fate remains to be seen, but for now, the former governor has secured a crucial opening in what seemed like a closed case.
