Waititu seeks court approval to pay Sh74.2 million graft fine in installments

Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari during a past court appearance. (Photo: ODPP)

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has asked the court to allow him to pay his Sh74.2 million criminal fine in instalments, proposing an initial payment of Sh20 million followed by monthly payments of Sh1 million.

Waititu, who is currently serving a prison sentence at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison following his conviction in a Sh588 million graft case, says the proposed payment arrangement would ease the financial and personal hardship he is facing while pursuing an appeal against his conviction.

Through his lawyer, Chris Mutuku, the former governor filed a certificate of urgency on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, seeking urgent consideration of his application.

In the application, Waititu wants the court to permit him to clear the outstanding fine through staggered payments, beginning with an immediate deposit of Sh20 million once the orders are granted.

He has proposed to pay the remaining amount in monthly instalments of Sh1 million or such other amounts as the court may consider reasonable.

“That this honourable court does permit the applicant (Waititu) to settle the fines imposed on him through staggered instalments as follows: immediately upon the order of the court, Sh20 million, and thereafter, in monthly instalments of Sh1 million or in such other amounts as the court may deem just and expedient,” the application states.

To guarantee payment of the outstanding balance, Waititu has offered to execute a bond and provide security in the form of title deeds or other assets acceptable to the court.

He argues that allowing him to pay in instalments would not prejudice the Republic, while easing the hardship occasioned by his continued incarceration.

The former governor further contends that should his appeal succeed, he would have suffered irreparable harm from imprisonment, particularly considering his advanced age and alleged ill-health.

He maintains that no amount of compensation or damages would adequately reverse the consequences of serving a prison sentence if his conviction is eventually overturned.

Waititu’s application follows his sentencing over the Sh588 million Kiambu County road tender scandal involving Testimony Enterprises.

The fines imposed on him arose from several counts under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), including a mandatory penalty equivalent to twice the alleged benefit obtained.

Under one count, he was fined Sh1 million, with a default sentence of two years’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a mandatory Sh51.249 million fine, representing twice the alleged benefit, or serve seven years in prison.

In another count involving Saika Two Estate Developers, he was fined Sh500,000 or one year in prison. Similar penalties were imposed under two additional counts.

The High Court also reversed aspects of the money-laundering proceedings, resulting in an additional Sh21 million fine.

The total financial penalty consequently rose to Sh74,249,000, which Waititu now wants to settle through the proposed instalment arrangement.