This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's health issues caused a stir on Wednesday morning when he arrived at a court hearing in an ambulance, nearly 30 minutes late.
According to reports, Sonko had been taken to the Kenyatta National Hospital on Monday night after allegedly falling ill, and was still undergoing treatment when he was transferred to the court.
His lawyers claimed that they had brought him to the court with an ambulance as a precautionary measure, fearing that he might be arrested outside the courtroom.
However, Chief Magistrate Ogoti questioned the decision, stating that the absence of an accused person does not interfere with the bail issuing to co-accused persons.
As the Magistrate read the ruling, Sonko sat down, looking weak and somber, and remained seated for the next hour, listening to the ruling in complete silence.
His lawyer, Cecil Miller, requested to address the court, citing a letter from the Kenyatta hospital that stated Sonko was suffering from hypertension and should be in hospital.
Magistrate Ogoti then asked why Sonko was brought to court with an ambulance, to which lawyer Kipchumba Murkomen responded, 'We did not want to take any chances.'
