Waititu to know fate on bond application next week

Waititu to know fate on bond application next week

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu who was sentenced to 12-years in jail or pay Ksh53,749,000 million fine after he was find guilty of corruption-related charges will know his fate on bond application on Monday, February 24, 2025.

Justice Lucy Njuguna directed that the bond application done through his lawyers will be heard in an open court.

She also directed that his lawyers should serve the Director of Public Prosecutions lawyers with the applications and directions of the same before the close of the day Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

The respondents have also been directed to respond in three days time.

Waititu through his lead lawyer Danstan Omari on February 17, 2025, made an application to have him released on bond on medical grounds.

In the application that is referred as extremely urgent, Waititu seeks to be granted bail waiting for the outcome of the appeal application asking the court to use the previous deposited bond.

“The bond security deposited in Nairobi Anti-corruption Case No. 22 OF 2019 by the Appellant/Applicant be applied as continuing bond to secure the release of the Appellant/Applicant,” parts of the appeal application reads.

He further stated that his health may continue to deteriorate if he continues to stay in custody.

“The applicant is likely to suffer if he continues to remain in custody given his medical condition of violent High Blood pressure which needs constant urgent medical care.” parts of the application reads.

In his argument for the bail to be granted, he states that he is not a flight risk for he is a well-known public figure and also his residence is well known.

“The Applicant has been a governor of Kiambu and has been in the public limelight as an active political figure to date, is well known with a permanent abode in the Republic of Kenya therefore not a flight risk,” parts of the appeal application added.

Notably, he states that he will comply with all conditions that shall be set by the court while granting him the bail.

Waititu filed an appeal challenging the sentence by the Anti-Corruption court in Milimani claiming that Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki who delivered the sentence failed to take into account his evidence and did not weigh it against that of the prosecution in making a just conclusion.

Waititu was remanded at Nairobi Remand and Allocation Maximum Prison after he was convicted and was taken ill on February 14, 2025.

According to the medical reports dated February 15, 2025, the former governor was taken to the prison health facility the day he was imprisoned after he developed difficulty in breathing, body weaknesses among other complications.

He was later referred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for further medical investigations and management.

The letter stated that he is currently under medication and a special diet but is still complaining that he is feeling unwell.

It further recommends for more tests and endocrinologist review for specialized management.