Ferdinand Waititu: From Kibera’s Streets to the Corridors of Power

Ferdinand Waititu, better known to Kenyans as “Baba Yao”, is one of the most controversial political figures in recent Kenyan history. From humble beginnings in Nairobi’s Kibera slums to the lofty office of Kiambu Governor, his rise and dramatic fall encapsulate the sharp contrasts in Kenya’s political landscape—marked by populist appeal, legal troubles, and an enduring knack for reinvention.

Born on January 1, 1962, Waititu’s early life was defined by struggle. Growing up in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, he beat the odds to attend Dagoretti High School. He later pursued a diploma at the Technical University of Kenya before heading to India, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Punjab University in 1991.

His initial ventures in business, particularly in logistics and waste management, laid the foundation for his entry into politics. Waititu first stepped onto the political stage in 2002 when he was elected as a councillor in Nairobi’s now-defunct Nairobi City Council. He rose to become the Deputy Mayor and soon established a reputation for being brash, direct, and deeply connected to the grassroots.

In 2008, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Embakasi in a by-election following the assassination of MP Mugabe Were. He later served as Assistant Minister for Water and Irrigation in the Grand Coalition Government led by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Waititu’s 2013 bid for Nairobi Governor was unsuccessful, but in 2015, he made a political comeback by winning the Kabete parliamentary seat. His star rose even further in 2017 when he defeated William Kabogo to become the Governor of Kiambu County, riding on the wave of the Jubilee Party’s popularity and promising to bring development closer to the people.

However, his tenure as governor quickly became mired in controversy. Allegations of corruption, abuse of office, mismanagement of county funds, and questionable procurement deals followed him throughout his term. By late 2019, the Kiambu County Assembly passed an impeachment motion against him. The Senate upheld the motion in January 2020, making Waititu one of the few Kenyan governors to be formally removed from office.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched investigations that revealed unexplained wealth running into hundreds of millions. The anti-graft agency uncovered properties, vehicles, and bank holdings far exceeding his declared income.

In February 2025, a Nairobi court found Waititu guilty of corruption in connection with a KSh 588 million road tender awarded during his tenure. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison or a fine of KSh 53.5 million. The ruling also barred him and his co-accused, including his wife Susan Wangari, from holding any public office for the next ten years.

Despite his legal troubles, Waititu’s political ambitions have not waned. Earlier this year, he was controversially appointed as the leader of the Farmers Party, a registered political outfit. Although barred from seeking public office, the position of party leader does not require vetting under the Leadership and Integrity Act. In a further twist, he had also been appointed in 2022 to the Nairobi Rivers Commission by President William Ruto—a move that sparked public outrage due to his prior impeachment.

Waititu’s journey has been anything but ordinary. While some view him as a populist with a genuine connection to ordinary Kenyans, others see him as a symbol of impunity and a warning of what unchecked political power can become.

His legacy remains hotly debated. What is clear, however, is that Ferdinand Waititu has left an indelible mark on Kenya’s political discourse—both for his dramatic rise from poverty and for the scandals that ultimately brought him down.