Prof Tom Ojienda the lawyer representing Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Ndung’u on Monday put up a spirited fight to convince the court to grant his clients bail.
While presenting the accused persons’ case, Ojienda said his clients were unlikely to escape because they were well known by members of the public and were raising a small child.
“The second accused person is the wife of the first accused person. Her Excellency, the First Lady of Kiambu County. She has a small child and cannot be a flight risk”.
“The first accused (Waititu) is a top political player. He can be identified easily because he is known by everyone and therefore cannot hide,” Senior Counsel Ojienda pleaded with the court without mentioning the age of the said child.
The city lawyer defended the late surrender by Waititu and his wife on Sunday morning – after nearly two days of a manhunt by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“My clients are law abiding citizens who surrendered to the EACC immediately after learning of the arrest warrant issued against them from the DPP’s statement,” the lawyer said.
DCI detectives had on Friday and Saturday raided Waititu’s homes and social joints where he frequents to no success.
The court is expected to make a decision on whether Waititu and nine of his co-accused will be released on bail in the case where they have been accused of embezzling Sh.588 million from county coffers.
The magistrate will also set the conditions that would be set in case bail is granted.