This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been at the center of controversy after being 'missing' for almost two weeks, with numerous corruption cases being investigated against him.
However, Sonko has justified his absence by comparing it to that of United States President Donald Trump, who also took extended foreign trips after taking office.
According to Sonko, his trips to Dubai, Italy, France, and South Korea are crucial for the city, as he aims to interact with other world city leaders and learn from their experiences.
On Tuesday, Sonko explained his absence through social media, stating that his trips are beneficial for Nairobi.
“In the last week starting Monday 7th October, I have been out of the country on an official tour where I visited Europe (France) Montpellier, Copenhagen (Denmark) and Asia (South Korea) to attend key note events where other major cities of the world were represented by my counterparts,” Sonko wrote on Facebook.
He further compared his trips to those of Trump, citing the latter's foreign trips in 2017 and 2018.
Published on October 15, 2019, Sonko's explanation has sparked debate, with many questioning the timing and necessity of his foreign trips amidst corruption investigations.
