Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu Hit with New Charges Amid Ongoing Imprisonment
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been slapped with fresh criminal charges while serving a 12-year prison sentence at Kamiti Maximum Prison. The new accusations, filed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, revolve around inflammatory statements he made at a public rally, raising fears of inciting unrest in the country.
Waititu, who has been behind bars since his February conviction on counts of conflict of interest and dealing with suspect property, now faces allegations tied to a September 29, 2024, event at Ruiru Stadium in Kiambu County. During the gathering, the ex-governor publicly decried the impeachment proceedings against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. In a bold and divisive remark, Waititu declared that if Gachagua were forced out of office, President William Ruto should follow suit and "go home" as well.
Prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions argue that Waititu's words were not mere political rhetoric but a calculated effort to provoke chaos. They claim the comments were designed to stir tension among key community groups, including hustlers, market vendors, boda-boda riders, and even clergy members. Such statements, according to the charges, posed a direct threat to national peace and stability, deliberately targeting vulnerable segments of society to escalate divisions.
The fresh case invokes Section 94(1) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes utterances or actions likely to incite public disorder or violence. Authorities describe Waititu's conduct as a clear violation, emphasizing the potential for his words to ripple into widespread unrest. A court appearance has been set for next week, where the former governor will have the opportunity to respond to these serious allegations. The ODPP has vowed to pursue the matter vigorously, underscoring their commitment to safeguarding public order.
This development comes against the backdrop of Waititu's protracted legal battles. Following his initial conviction, he was disqualified from holding any public office for a decade, effectively sidelining him from politics. In a brief respite, Waititu was granted release on a Ksh53 million bond while his appeal was pending. However, that freedom proved short-lived. His legal team has since lodged multiple applications for bail or conditional release, including a notable bid in September 2025, but all have been rebuffed.
High Court Judge Lucy Njuna, in a firm ruling, dismissed the latest plea, stating that repeated requests were merely stalling tactics designed to prolong the judicial process. The court highlighted Waititu's failure to secure the mandatory bank guarantee required for his liberation. This marks the fourth such denial, as his lawyers had previously approached the bench three times with similar arguments, each time meeting the same outcome.
Waititu's journey from Kiambu County's top executive to a high-profile inmate has been marked by a series of corruption probes and public controversies. His current stint at Kamiti, one of Kenya's toughest correctional facilities, stems from graft-related offenses that painted a picture of abuse of power during his gubernatorial tenure. As these new charges unfold, they add another layer to a narrative of defiance and legal entanglements that continues to captivate and divide public opinion.
Legal experts are watching closely, noting how this case could test the boundaries of free speech in political discourse, especially amid Kenya's tense post-election atmosphere. For Waititu's supporters, the charges represent political persecution; for critics, they are a necessary check on inflammatory leadership. As the hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the courts to see if this chapter brings further reckoning or respite for the embattled politician.