Blow to Waititu as Court Dismisses Bid to Review 12-Year Sentence

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has suffered a major legal setback after the High Court dismissed his application to review the 12-year prison term imposed on him earlier this year.

In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna upheld the sentence, rejecting an application filed on August 28 in which Waititu sought to have the punishment overturned.

Waititu, who was convicted in February 2025 on corruption-related charges, was ordered to either pay a fine of Sh53.5 million or serve 12 years in jail.

The court found him guilty of irregularly receiving Sh25 million from Testimony Enterprises following the award of a flawed county tender.

Justice Njuguna said the sentence would stand pending the determination of Waititu’s appeal, which must be heard and concluded within 120 days.

She cautioned that unnecessary delays by the former governor or his legal team could result in the case being struck out.

“The applicant must proceed with his appeal expeditiously. The court will not entertain attempts to frustrate the conclusion of this matter,” the judge ruled.

Waititu is currently serving his term at Kamiti Maximum Prison, having failed to meet stringent bond conditions that required him to deposit a Sh53 million bank guarantee.

The case will be mentioned on October 1, 2025, as the court sets timelines for the hearing of the appeal.

The ruling is seen as a significant win for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which has been under pressure to secure convictions in high-profile corruption cases.