No Rest for Sonko As Court Delivers Second Blow

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko before the Milimani anti-corruption court on February 18, 2020.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko when he appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption court on February 18, 2020.
Daily Nation

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko suffered yet another blow in court on Wednesday, February 26, barely a day after he surrendered key county functions to the national government.

The Anti-Corruption Court at Milimani on February 26, 2020, dismissed Sonko's bid to block the Ksh357 million graft case against him.

The embattled governor had asked the court to quash the case arguing that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had obtained evidence against him illegally.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at a Milimani court in September 2018.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at a Milimani court in September 2018
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Sonko's lawyers argued that the manner in which evidence was obtained from his bank accounts was illegal and in contravention of the constitution as Sonko was not aware of the investigation into his accounts. 

EACC, however, defended itself by stating that Sonko was informed of the probe into his accounts on Septemeber 3 2019.

The EACC had fought against the governor's efforts arguing that Sonko wanted to obtain orders against prosecution "through the back door".

This marked the second time the governor had lost the fight to have the graft case suspended.

The first was in January 16, 2020 when the Nairobi Governor had sought the orders to stop the graft trial following corruption allegations leveled against EACC Director of Investigations Abdi Mohamud.

Sonko had challenged the mandate of the EACC to investigate him on graft charges while its own director was caught up in alleged corruption deals.

The governor claimed that Mohamud was involved in the sale of Integrity Centre for Ksh 1.5b and grabbing a public plot in Nairobi. 

Justice Mumbi Ngugi during a court sitting.
Justice Mumbi Ngugi during a court sitting.
Daily Nation

Justice Mumbi Ngugi, however, declined to stay the case before the EACC had time to file its response to the claims and the case was allowed to continue. 

The Ksh 357 million graft case the governor is fighting revolves around a garbage collection tender.

According to the EACC, between October 11, 2018, and March 13, 2019, the governor had approved a tender for Ksh 357 million for solid waste disposal. 

The EACC argued that the company selected had been given the garbage contract fraudulently in disregard of procurement rules.

Sonko's lawyer, Cecil Miller, stated in court that they would appeal the ruling.

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