This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has been summoned by the Council of Governors (CoG) to address the power vacuum that could hit Nairobi County Government following the arrest of Governor Mike Sonko on graft charges.
CoG Chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya called for an emergency meeting with the Head of State on Sunday, citing the need to discuss the unfolding situation in Nairobi after Sonko's arrest in Voi last Friday.
According to Oparanya, the council is 'monitoring and consulting widely' on the situation, and has decided to reach out to President Kenyatta to convene an emergency summit to address the evolving situation.
On Monday, Governor Sonko and his co-accused denied multiple charges of corruption at Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi, including 19 charges of corruption, abuse of office, and irregular payments that saw Nairobi county lose Sh357 million in the construction of Dandora stadium.
Should Sonko be prosecuted and ordered to leave office, the vacant Deputy Governor seat would mean Speaker Beatrice Elachi would assume office as governor of Nairobi in an acting capacity for a period of 60 days before the Nairobi electorate is allowed to elect another county chief.
