Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has continued his criticism of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, this time questioning his silence on the jailing of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.

In a statement shared on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Wambugu questioned why Gachagua has remained silent months after Waititu was jailed, despite the former governor’s unwavering loyalty to him. He noted that during Gachagua’s political rise, Waititu was constantly present at his public events, often defending him and using his own resources to support his political cause.

“Waititu would show up for every Gachagua event & make all kinds of statements in his support. He spent his money & resources. Since he was jailed, Gachagua has never visited him, in jail or in court,” Wambugu said.

Wambugu pointed out that since Waititu’s imprisonment, Gachagua has not spoken out or shown any public support, raising concerns about his loyalty to those who once stood by him.

Waititu’s case

This comes days after Ferdinand Waititu suffered a major setback after the Milimani High Court rejected his second bail attempt.

Waititu was seeking to be released on bail pending the determination of his appeal after he was convicted in a Ksh588 million corruption case.

Dismissing the bail application for the second time, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna stated that it lacked merit.

“This court is not persuaded by the applicants, and in respect to the present application and for the reasons this court has given, it holds a strong view that the application lacks merit, and I struck it out,” Lady Justice Njuguna ruled.

Further, the judge stated that the issues raised in the second bail application should have been raised in the first application, as they are points of law and are within the knowledge of the convict lawyers.

Second bail application

In the second bail application, Waititu had argued that the High Court has the power to entertain more than one application for bail concerning the same person, depending on the facts and circumstances.

Notably, the judge stated that the court of appeal bars litigation of a lawsuit for the second time on the same claim or any other claim arising from the same transaction or the same series of transactions.

Additionally, it bars courts from reviewing their own judgements and the importance of not repeating the merits of the same.

Waititu’s lead lawyer, Kibe Mungai, requested leave to appeal, which the High Court granted.

The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) strongly opposed the second attempt by the former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu to seek to be released on bail pending hearing and determination of his appeal after he was convicted of graft.

Through principal prosecution lawyer Faith Mwila on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, DPP argued that in the fresh application, Waititu had not demonstrated a change of circumstances that could lead him to be granted bail pending the appeal hearing.

“The appellant has not demonstrated that there has been a change of circumstances warranting this court to review its orders of March 4, 2025,” read some of the grounds.