There appears to be no end in sight for the legal woes facing former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who was on Tuesday, November 11, hit with fresh charges while behind bars.
Besides the graft case in which he was found guilty, Waititu was again charged over remarks he allegedly made in Ruiru Stadium in Kiambu County on September 29 2024.
According to prosecutors, the former county boss's comments during a public event were deliberately provocative and had the potential to shake the peace in the country.
In his alleged speech, Waititu seemingly condemned impeachment proceedings against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by suggesting that 'if Gachagua goes home, President Ruto must also go'.
The prosecution also informed the court that the remarks had specifically targeted groups including hustlers, market vendors, boda-boda operators, and clergy, and that they were intended to fuel tension.
Waititu's conduct is said to have conflicted with Section 94.1 of the Penal Code, which deals specifically with comments that could lead to public unrest.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to actively pursue the matter in light of the charges, and a court hearing has been scheduled for next week.
Currently, Waititu is being held at the Kamiti Maximum Prison where he is serving a 12-year jail term for offences of conflict of interest and dealing with suspect property.
His lawyers launched another bid to secure his freedom in September 2025, but the application was denied after he failed to raise the required bank guarantee to secure his release.
His legal team had made similar requests on three previous occasions, but High Court Justice Lucy Njuguna ruled that such applications would only delay the judicial process.
After his initial February conviction, Waititu was handed temporary reprieve after he was briefly freed on a Ksh53 million bond pending the hearing and determination of his appeal, which sought the dismissal of his imprisonment.
Besides the 12-year imprisonment, the former Governor was also barred from holding public office for a period of 10 years.
