Editor's Review

While prosecutions of high-profile figures remain rare, these cases reaffirm that no one is entirely above the law.

Kenya’s political landscape has witnessed several leaders jailed over various allegations, reflecting ongoing efforts to enforce accountability. While prosecutions of high-profile figures remain rare, these cases reaffirm that no one is entirely above the law. 

From Members of Parliament (MPs) to senior political figures, such convictions have sparked debates on leadership integrity and the judiciary’s effectiveness. Whether seen as a triumph of justice or influenced by political undercurrents, these rulings have had a lasting impact on governance. 

Ferdinand Waititu 

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was sentenced to 12 years in prison on February 13, 2025. However, he was granted the option to pay a Ksh53.5 million fine to avoid serving the full term.

Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki also fined Waititu’s wife, Susan Wangari, Ksh500,000, with a one-year jail term as an alternative. 

Read More

  1. Judiciary Defends Ksh 53.7 Million Fine On Waititu
  2. Waititu Sentenced to Serve Jail Term
  3. Ex-Kiambu Governor Waititu Found Guilty in Ksh588 Million Case

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Waititu was convicted of a conflict of interest after benefiting from a county road tender through his company. He faced a mandatory Ksh51 million fine or seven years in jail, along with an additional five-year sentence or a Ksh2.5 million fine.

The case dates back to 2018 when he was Kiambu Governor, with prosecution evidence showing fraudulent procurement practices.

Mohammed Dida

Former presidential candidate Mohammed Dida was sentenced to seven years in prison in Illinois, United States, after being found guilty of stalking and making threats against an individual. 

He received two years for stalking and threatening, plus an additional five years for aggravated stalking and violating a restraining order.

Dida is currently serving his sentence at the Big Muddy Correctional Center in Illinois, with a scheduled release date of April 3, 2029.

John Waluke

Sirisia MP John Waluke and his business associate, Grace Wakhungu, were convicted in June 2020 for fraudulently obtaining Ksh313 million from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). 

Sirisia MP John Waluke. 

The duo had claimed the amount was compensation for the storage of 40,000 metric tonnes of white maize, purportedly handled by Chelsea Freights. The court found them guilty and sentenced Waluke to 67 years and Wakhungu to 69 years in prison. Alternatively, they could pay fines of Ksh727 million and Ksh707 million, respectively.

After appealing the verdict at the High Court, the ruling was upheld, sending them to prison. However, in November 2022, Waluke was released on a Ksh10 million cash bail pending an appeal at the Court of Appeal. As of February 2025, a final verdict was yet to be issued.

Mathew Lempurkel

In November 2021, former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel was sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting then-nominated MP Sarah Korere in 2016. 

The court found him guilty of slapping Korere on the left cheek and kicking her in the lower abdomen during an altercation at the late Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery’s office in Harambee House.

Principal Magistrate Helen Okwani ruled that credible evidence confirmed the assault, leading to Lempurkel’s 12-month jail term. He later appealed the conviction and was released in December 2021.