Governor Sonko Ready to Step Aside Following EACC Summon

Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, has declared his willingness to step aside from his office, following a summon to appear at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commissions (EACC) headquarter, Valley Road, Nairobi.

The governor has been called up to record a statement on graft allegations he made against Nairobi Woman Representative, Esther Passaris.

"I want to categorically state that, in the event it is established that I have a case to answer before the law, I am ready to step aside to allow the EACC complete investigations and determination of the matter," he affirmed.

"I will be honouring the said summons by individually presenting myself to Integrity Centre immediately after the ongoing Memorial Services of my colleague, the late Bomet Governor, Dr Joyce Laboso and the late Mp for Kibra Hon. Ken Okoth," he added.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Director Communications Governor Press Service & Media Chief Officer Nairobi County, Jacob Elkana, affirmed the summon orders, adding that the governor would adhere to the call.

The communications director also made it clear that he would furnish EACC officers with all the evidence he had gathered, maintaining that he would not relent in his fight to root out corruption.

Back on June 10, 2019, the Woman Rep had challenged Sonko to present evidence backing his corruption claims to the EACC, adding that she was seeking legal action against the governor.

Sonko, during an interview on Citizen TV, had accused Passaris of claiming double per diem from the county government and Parliament.

“None of the accusations or insinuations levelled against me are true. And as we move along, after I have consulted with my lawyers and various government agencies, this time I am not letting go,” Passaris asserted in a past interview.

It was during Sonko's controversial interview on JKLive, which was cut short by the station's management, that he laid out several accusations against the legislator.

"There is this per diem for my Woman Rep Esther Muthoni Passaris for Ksh 400,000 of which I have not paid and I will not pay. Why, because this per diem was paid by the National Assembly," the governor explained during the interview.

During the same interview, the Nairobi governor alleged that Passaris had been soliciting huge sums of money from him, including Ksh300 Million to help him settle a petition challenging his election as the governor.

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