This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on Monday, December 9, 2019, after spending the weekend in police custody.
He pleaded not guilty to more than 10 counts of corruption-related offenses, including conspiracy, failure to comply with procurement laws, conflict of interest, and abuse of office.
According to the charges, Sonko was involved in irregular procurement that led to the loss of public funds amounting to Sh357 million.
He was represented by a team of 12 lawyers, including Cecil Miller Jnr., Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr, and Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo.
His defense team urged the court to release him on bail, citing medical complications he developed during his arrest, including chest complications and rib fractures.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, citing concerns that Sonko may interfere with State witnesses and that he is wanted for assaulting police officers during his arrest.
Prosecutor James Kihara also requested the court to bar Sonko from accessing his office and order him to surrender all his passports.
During the hearing, Sonko's lawyer, Cecil Miller Jnr., dismissed claims that his client had escaped from Shimo La Tewa Prison in 1997, stating that if this were true, Sonko would not have been cleared to run for public office.
