John Mwangi
Nairobi.
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Ndung’u Waititu has obtained the Sh53 million bank guarantee required for his release pending appeal in the Sh588 million corruption case, a Nairobi court was told on Tuesday.
Waititu, who has been held at Kamiti Maximum Prison since his February 2025 conviction, appeared before Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi for mention of a separate offensive conduct case. His lawyer informed the court that the bank guarantee, set earlier by the High Court as a condition for his release, had finally been secured.
Magistrate Ndombi noted that once the guarantee is formally deposited with the appropriate court, Waititu will be eligible for release in the corruption matter. She also upheld the existing bond terms in the ongoing offensive conduct case.
The former governor, popularly known as Baba Yao, was convicted alongside his wife and five others over the irregular award of Sh588 million road works tenders during his tenure. He has remained behind bars since February after the High Court in October rejected his bid to substitute the guarantee with cash bail.
Tuesday’s development places Waititu just days — or even hours — away from leaving Kamiti Maximum Prison, nearly ten months after he began serving his sentence. The guarantee must still be processed and lodged with the High Court registry before release orders can be issued.