This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was released on a Sh15 million bail after spending two days in custody. However, he might spend a third night in remand as the High Court deferred the hearing of his appeal against the magistrate's bail ruling until Friday.
Waititu's lawyer, Tom Ojienda, argued that the magistrate's bail terms were unconstitutional and excessive. He stated that the bail amounts set for the accused persons were disproportionate and did not commensurate with the amount said to have been lost.
According to Ojienda, the bail terms set by the magistrate for all the accused persons were harsh and did not take into account their financial circumstances. He argued that some of the accused are junior staff who cannot raise the amounts.
Waititu was charged alongside six other Kiambu County officials and a businessman for conspiracy to defraud the county Sh588 million through irregular road tender. His wife, Susan Wangari Ndun'gu, was released on a cash bail of Sh4 million.
Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi also ordered the governor to stay away from his office and to deposit all his traveling documents in court. Mugambi released Kiambu County Chief Officer for Roads and Transport Luka Mwangi Waihinya and businessman Charles Mbuthia Chege on a cash bail of Sh15 million each.
