Former Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu, has been granted permission to amend his petition seeking release on bail.
In the new directive, Waititu has been granted permission to make changes or corrections to his appeal as he aims to secure his release from a jail term after he was convicted of graft.
In that regard, Waititu could then add new arguments or legal grounds, correct errors or omissions, update facts or evidence and reframe the case based on developments since the original filing.
What this means
However, it does not mean the court agrees with the appeal or that the outcome will be favourable. Waititu still faces a bigger battle with the amended appeal to be evaluated on its substance.
The bail application is the second appeal Waititu has filed, with one against his jail sentence still pending before the courts. The courts had refused to grant him bail after a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) opposing his bail request.
Waititu’s appeal
In his appeal, Waititu had argued his health was diminishing, complaining of chest pains and high blood pressure, but all this proved futile with Waititu confined to remand at the Industrial Area prison.
The former governor was sentenced to 12 years in prison or pay Ksh. 52.5 million after he was found guilty of conflict of interest in a Ksh.588 million graft case.Â
Waititu was similarly barred from vying for any political seat for a period of 7 years.
Waititu was charged along with his wife, Susan Ndung’u, who was slapped with a one-year imprisonment or pay a fine of Ksh.500,000.
By BNN