This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
Published on December 8, 2019, Governor Mike Sonko's tenure in Nairobi was marked by controversy and defiance of the odds.
From his debut in politics as an unknown city businessman in 2010, Sonko has made a career out of defying the odds, refusing to play old-fashioned politics and opting for populism.
By the time he was vying for governor in 2017, Sonko had grown from a political rookie to a juggernaut, garnering more votes in Nairobi than President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
However, things started going wrong for Sonko after he refused to approve Peter Kariuki as county secretary, citing 'State House operatives' controlling his administration.
His refusal to accommodate Kariuki effectively put him on a collision course with the Jubilee Party machinery, leading to the resignation of his deputy governor, Polycarp Igathe.
After Igathe's resignation, Sonko ran the county as a lone ranger, firing or suspending executives who differed with him.
The County Assembly Speaker, Beatrice Elachi, was the first to taste the post-Igathe county leadership when she was impeached in April 2018.
Despite being summoned by the Senate to explain his leadership style, Sonko vowed to continue with his approach, saying he had no apologies and would deal with cartels ruthlessly.
He also picked a battle with Interior principal secretary, accusing him of trying to undermine his leadership and claiming the National Intelligence Service had planted spies in a hotel overlooking his Upper Hill residence.
At one point, Sonko even moved his office from City Hall to his Mua Hills home in Machakos, alleging the PS had threatened his life.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, Sonko claimed President Kenyatta had offered to mediate his tiff with Dr Kibicho, saying they had tea together and shook hands.
By that time, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had initiated investigations on alleged corruption by the governor, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had started a probe on a militia called Sonko Defence Force.
