High-stakes bond applications, mentions set to dominate today’s court sessions

Courts are today (Wednesday) expected to handle several high-profile cases, including a fresh bond plea by former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who is serving a 12-year prison term for corruption.

The day will also see the mention of a case involving a businessman accused of assaulting his sister, a bond hearing for former footballer Collins Okoth alias Gatuso, and the return to court of a man accused of impersonating the president online.

Waititu, who is jailed at Kamiti Maximum Prison, is seeking to be released on bond pending the hearing of his appeal. He was sentenced in February after being found guilty in a corruption case. The court had offered an alternative fine of Sh53 million.

An earlier request for a bond was turned down by Justice Lucy Njuguna on March 3. However, Waititu, through his lawyer Kibe Mungai, returned to the High Court with an amended plea seeking to be freed from prison.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by counsel Vincent Monda, has opposed the revised application. Justice Njuguna permitted the amendments last week and directed all parties to file and serve their responses ahead of Wednesday’s court mention.

Okoth bond application

In a separate case at the High Court, former Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia midfielder Collins Okoth, popularly known as Gatuso, will also be seeking release on bond. Okoth is jointly charged with Sylvia Aoko Odhiambo in the murder of a three-year-old girl in Lucky Summer Estate, Nairobi.

They both denied the charges before Justice Alexander Muteti. Today’s hearing will focus on arguments for their release on bond as the case proceeds.

Meanwhile, Makadara Law Courts will mention the case of Abdiaziz Abdullahi Hassan, a businessman charged with causing grievous harm to his younger sister, Ridhwan Abdilahi Hassan.

The alleged assault took place on January 2, 2025, at their sister’s home in Eastleigh. Investigations show that Abdiaziz, who had tracked Ridhwan to Uganda, reported her missing before ordering her detention in Busia when she returned. She was later transferred to Pangani police station and released after family intervention.

That evening, Abdiaziz allegedly followed her to their sister’s house and attacked her. Ridhwan was taken to a local hospital by her younger brother and later examined at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where her injuries were classified as serious.

She recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, leading to the arrest of Abdiaziz. He denied the charge and was released on a cash bail of Sh30,000 or a bond of Sh80,000. The case will be mentioned today before the hearing begins on July 16, 2025.

Also in court today is Titus Wekesa Sifuna, the 22-year-old man accused of impersonating President William Ruto on social media. Sifuna allegedly used an X account titled “I must Go” to falsely claim the president had resigned.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations had initially been allowed to detain him for three days, and later returned to court seeking an extension.

However, Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo declined the request and released him on a cash bail of Sh100,000 or an alternative bond of Sh1 million.

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• Governor Ferdinand Waititu
• High-stakes bond applications
• mentions set to dominate today’s court sessions

According to Detective Peter Mwangi from DCI headquarters, the case involves the offence of publishing false information under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act. He stated that the account had posted offensive images and messages about the president and his family, which had attracted negative public reactions and could threaten national peace.

DCI further claims that Sifuna had been posting content while staying in Msambweni, Kwale County, and had used a SIM card registered with his national identity card. Investigators plan to conduct forensic analysis on his digital devices and are awaiting court orders to obtain data from the social media platform.

As the investigations continue, Sifuna is required to report to the DCI when needed. His return to court today is part of the ongoing process to monitor developments in the case.