Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu won partial relief after the High Court ordered him to forfeit Ksh131 million to the state, far less than the over Ksh1.9 billion in assets prosecutors had initially sought to recover.

In a judgment delivered on December 19, Justice Nixon Sifuna partly allowed a civil suit filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which had accused Waititu and his wife of amassing wealth through corrupt dealings while he served in public office.

Among the assets the couple has been ordered to surrender are two plots of land valued at Ksh32 million, a Caterpillar construction tractor worth Ksh11 million, and two cars valued at Ksh600,000 each.

According to the court, the couple failed to provide sufficient evidence proving that the assets were acquired through legitimate means.

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The ruling means Waititu will relinquish only a fraction of the assets initially targeted by the anti-graft agency, a decision likely to come as a significant reprieve for the former governor, who had been facing the potential loss of properties valued at more than Ksh1.9 billion.

What Justice Nixon Said After Defendants Failed to Appear in Court

Waititu and his wife skipped the court hearing for the second time, as judgment was due to be delivered in a case seeking the forfeiture of properties worth over Sh1.9 billion, allegedly acquired through corruption.

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Justice Nixon Sifuna of the Milimani Anti-Corruption High Court directed the couple to appear on December 19, 2025 without failure, noting that the judgment had already been postponed twice due to their absence and that of their lawyer, either virtually or physically.

“That is unconventional. On a day of judgment, the defendants are not there. The defendants must appear in court without failure… whether anyone attends or not, I will read the judgment on Friday,” Justice Sifuna ordered.

Milimani Law Courts structure for illustration purposes. PHOTO/Courtesy