The High Court in Nairobi has upheld the impeachment of former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
The three-judge bench including justices Said Chitembwe, Weldon Korir and Wilfrida Okwany, made the ruling at the Milimani law courts on Thursday, June 24.
The judges ruled that the impeachment fully complied with the constitution.
"There was an allegation that the President of the Republic of Kenya was behind the impeachment of hon Sonko... We do not see any external hand in the impeachment of Sonko...We find no merit that the impeachment of hon Sonko was instigated or engineered by other reasons other than those instigated by article 181 of the constitution.
"The impeachment of Hon Sonko fully complied with the constitution and the statutory requirements. We find that the two petitions lack merit and are hereby dismissed," the judges ruled.
The former governor had challenged his impeachment by the Nairobi Assembly which was also adopted by the Senate.
The court also ruled that Ann Kananu was lawfully vetted, approved and sworn in as Deputy Governor.
The court found that attempts by Sonko to withdraw the nomination of Kananu were unlawful and without basis.
"The governor is only a nominating authority, not an approving authority. Mike Sonko could not unilaterally withdraw the nomination without the approval or consent of the County Assembly."
"Nomination, vetting, approval and swearing-in of Ann Kananu as Nairobi Deputy governor was constitutional and complied with all applicable laws, we, therefore, state that any petition challenging her appointment are without merit and are hereby dismissed," the judges ruled.
Sonko had claimed to have withdrawn Kananu’s nomination in a letter dated December 7, 2020.
