Waititu suffers major blow as court upholds 12-year sentence

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has suffered a significant legal setback after the High Court dismissed his application to review a 12-year prison sentence linked to a Ksh. 25 million corruption scandal.

Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna, in a ruling delivered on September 16, 2025, upheld the stiff sentence handed down earlier this year, insisting that the disgraced former county boss must continue to serve time at Kamiti Maximum Prison pending the outcome of his appeal.

Waititu, popularly known as Baba Yao, was convicted in February and ordered to either pay a Ksh. 53.5 million fine or serve 12 years behind bars. The conviction stemmed from irregular payments he pocketed from Testimony Enterprises following the award of a flawed county tender.

The court ruled that his actions betrayed the principles of good governance and amounted to abuse of office.

In her ruling, Justice Njuguna stressed that Waititu’s application, filed on August 28, was without merit. She directed that the pending appeal be concluded within 120 days, cautioning that unnecessary delays could lead to the matter being struck out altogether.

Meanwhile, Waititu will continue serving his term at Kamiti Maximum Prison, after failing to meet strict bond terms that required him to deposit a Ksh. 53 million bank guarantee.

The matter will be mentioned in court on 1st October 2025.