Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has faulted the judiciary’s decision to deny bail to NYS suspects citing that the move was drastic and against the constitution.
Speaking in a burial service in Mathira, Nyeri county, the governor indicated that the punitive action was aimed at denying the suspects their rights.
“Stop accelerating the war against corruption until you start breaking the constitution,” he mentioned.
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“My basic understanding of the law is that one is innocent until proven guilty. We should then stop breaking the 2010 constitution that guarantees the freedom of everyone in the name of fighting corruption,” he stated.
“I would urge the judiciary, the Chief Justice to grant the suspects a chance to defend themselves by granting them bail, it is not that the cases won’t proceed if they are released,” the governor stated.
The sentiments by Sonko came after all the NYS suspects were denied bail pending the hearing of their case on June 19.
Sonko, however, stated that he was not undermining the effort by the national government and the anti-graft body to curb corruption in the country.
“The president directed that all those linked to graft scandals should be prosecuted no matter who they are or what position they hold. I am following this directive as I have already started sorting out the scandals in my county,” he indicated.
He further asked all cabinet secretaries whose ministries have been involved in graft scandals to step aside pending investigations and conclusions of the cases implicating them.
The Nairobi governor indicated that corruption should not be fought selectively by prosecuting only those who received tenders and not including those who were in charge of awarding the tenders.
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