Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has had a tough time ever since his impeachment from the Nairobi Governorship. Many attribute this to his fallout with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
His woes continued when Sonko arrived at the Gigiri Police Station on Tuesday evening where he was remanded. He was escorted by a convoy of police vehicles and guarded by around 20 heavily armed officers. This was after being arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts.
He was arraigned in court on Wednesday where he couldn’t stop himself from sobbing. Magistrate Ogoti had to urge him to calm down.
“Just compose yourself. Do not cry, do not cry,” he said.
Who comprises Sonko’s Legal Team?
Sonko’s legal team comprises Lawyers John Khaminwa, Wilfred Nyamu, Assa Nyakundi, Kipchumba Murkomen and Evans Ondieki.
Photo: David Njaaga, Standard
Sonko alleged an intent to inject him with an unknown substance while he was in detention the previous night.
His lawyer Khaminwa added, “All other suspects who were being held at Gigiri Police Station were transferred to other stations leaving him alone in the cell. The intention was to inject him with unknown substance and it is only after he resisted and made noise that they did not inject him.”
Sonko was also forced to sleep on the concrete floor, something that worsened his medical condition. This was according to his lawyers.
It was thought that Sonko would be facing charges relating to planning the 2017 election violence. This was after he had publicly admitted to having played a part in the chaos. Little did he and his defence team know what was awaiting him.
What Charges Is Sonko Facing?
Sonko is facing charges of forceful and violent entry into a property owned by Landmark International Properties. This occurred on May 25, 2019, while he was in the company of others.
He is also facing counts of assaulting and causing him bodily harm to various people. They are; Alex Kioko, Musyoki Kavunda, Joel Kinja and John Mungai. The assaults are also alleged to have occurred on the same day of the forceful entry.
The controversial politician was also charged with fraud. He is accused of demanding Ksh. 10 million from a company in relation to an irregular tender process. The company was seeking a contract to collect revenue on behalf of the County Government of Nairobi.
Links To Terrorism
Another sworn affidavit was made by an officer from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). In the affidavit, Chief Inspector Newton Thimangu claims to have intelligence on Sonko recruiting a militia.
Sonko is alleged to have purchased military attire thereby posing a threat to national security and sovereignty of the country.
“The suspect who was in the company of an unknown person had worn militia attire and together with the suspect they were both spotted in public in the full glare of the media and in front of a huge mass of people in a public rally.” read the affidavit.
Inspector Thimangu alleges that Sonko is a financier of a wide and complex syndicate financing terrorism activities. Hence, the prosecution is seeking orders to detain Sonko for 30 more days in order to finish investigations on the same.
This is perhaps the reason why he was heavily guarded from the Gigiri Police Station to the courts.
ATPU officers guarding Sonko
Photo: Courtesy
In a sworn affidavit, the prosecution denied that Sonko be released on bond and bail as he was a flight risk. They added that the politician had huge support in Nairobi and he may use this to interfere with witnesses.
It also came up that Sonko had at one point missed a court session. This was after a warrant of arrest had been issued for him.
However, his defense team tried as much to convince the court otherwise.
During the Thursday hearing on his bail application, the court ordered that Sonko be remanded at Gigiri Police station until Tuesday. This means that he shall be spending the weekend in police cells.
Sonko’s predicaments are a sharp contrast to the flamboyant life he enjoyed as the county head. We are keen on seeing what transpires and we shall be keeping you informed on this story
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