This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
On December 9, 2019, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was formally charged with corruption, money laundering, and conflict of interest in a Sh357 million scandal.
He pleaded 'not guilty' to all the charges when he was arraigned before anti-corruption court magistrate Douglas Ogoti, in a packed court that was secured by anti-riot police officers.
He was represented by several lawyers led by Cecil Miller, who unsuccessfully applied for an anticipatory bail soon after the Governor was arrested in Voi in a dramatic scene captured on video on Thursday after the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji indicted him and 18 others.
Former County Secretary Peter Kariuki and former procurement head Patrick Mwangangi are among 13 other suspects including tender committee members and directors of firms awarded questionable contracts.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the officials facilitated and/or benefitted from the irregular procurement and payments amounting to Sh357, 390,299 million.
A video shared widely online showed the county chief resisting arrest following police officers to handcuff him before forcing him into a police helicopter at the Ikanga airstrip in Taita Taveta.
