Sonko Suffers Another Blow in Ksh 357 Million Case

Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko at City Hall 23 September 2019.
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Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Friday, December 4, suffered another setback after he lost a bid to suspend his prosecution in a Ksh357 million corruption case.

The ruling came a day after the members of the Nairobi County Assembly voted to impeach him.  

Justice George Odunga declined to issue orders sought by Sonko and instead directed the petition to the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Division in Nairobi.

“That division is competent enough to refer the matter to the Chief Justice as sought as well as determine whether the judges mentioned can excuse themselves from hearing the matter,” the judge noted

Justice George Odunga at the High Court on December 18, 2019.
Justice George Odunga at the High Court on December 18, 2019.
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In submissions through his lawyer, Cecil Miller, Sonko wanted the trial stopped awaiting the determination of a petition where he sought to have it declared prejudicial.

The county head also sought an order prohibiting the chief magistrate of the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court from hearing the graft case.

Sonko further faulted a move by the DPP, EACC, and the DCI to turn directors of a company involved i in the case as prosecution witnesses as an abuse of power.

“They were guided by conniving, conspiracy, fraud, discrimination, and a biased, illegal, unjustifiable and unconstitutional turn of events, hence occasioning loss of public funds.

"They withdrew the charges against the three so as to testify against the accused persons, including the petitioner,” he told the court.

Earlier in February 2020, the Anti-Corruption Court dismissed Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's application to stop his prosecution in the corruption case.

Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti ruled on Wednesday that the governor would answer to the charges levelled against him.

At the time, Sonko accused the EACC of illegally obtaining evidence against him from banks.

On Friday, December 4, a motion to impeach Sonko proceeded to the next step after the Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura formally submitted the resolution on his removal to the Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka.

The censure motion was moved by Nairobi County Assembly Minority Leader Michael Ogada citing abuse of office, gross misconduct, and lack of physical and mental capacity to run county affairs as well as refusal to sign for funds allocated to Nairobi Metropolitan Services.

Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura
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