Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju affirmed that Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, threw himself under the bus and the party cannot defend him against an impeachment motion from Nairobi MCAs.
While speaking to K24 TV presenter Anne Kiguta, on Sunday, December 29, Tuju argued that Jubilee had tried to assist Sonko to manage the county, however, the governor turned down his party's assistance.
According to Tuju, Sonko would not have managed the county on his own despite being the people's choice, winning the 2017 gubernatorial elections by a huge margin. The party paired him with businessman Polycarp Igathe, a move that later backfired. After Igathe resigned, Jubilee advised Sonko to appoint another deputy, however, Sonko refrained.
"Sonko is a product of our Kenyan political culture. Originally, the idea was to have him as a political head of the county. We brought in a qualified corporate head (Igathe) who was supposed to help him ensure the county is run professionally. Unfortunately, it did not work.
"Igathe did not inform us of his resignation. We saw it on the news. He did not consult anyone, (President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto nor Tuju) He had done it already which to some extent is expected as he was not a politician. If he was he would have consulted," Tuju expressed his bewilderment.
Kiguta wondered whether Tuju was blindsided as the party knew the antics and characteristics of Mike Sonko. She went on to raise questions over whether Sonko could have stood by the agreement.
"He was the choice of the people of Nairobi. In the whole country, he got more votes than anybody else other than Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. Unfortunately, that is the reality of our politics. Sonko ran for nomination and won convincingly.
"After Igathe resigned, we tried to approach Sonko to appoint a deputy but he didn't do it. If you look at the Building Bridges Initiative, there is a recommendation that a governor should be forced to appoint a deputy within 90 days, if they don't they face an election," Tuju explained.
He went on to add that Sonko's calamities can't be prevented by the party if he would face an impeachment based on the criminal charges he is facing. Sonko is facing a court case against embezzlement of over Ksh 357 million of county funds.
"When you have criminal issues, then you are throwing yourself under the bus," Tuju affirmed.
Upon release from prison on a Ksh15 million cash bail or Ksh30 million bond and a surety of a similar amount, Sonko was barred from office and was also ordered to submit his passport to the courts. He was further warned against interfering with witnesses or commenting on the case even on social media.
Video: K24 TV
