This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's court appearance on Wednesday morning was marked by drama, as he arrived in an ambulance, causing a stir among court officials and lawyers.
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 brought to court.
His lawyers, Cecil Miller and Kipchumba Murkomen, claimed that they had brought him to court with an ambulance as a precautionary measure, fearing that officers might be waiting to arrest him outside the courtroom.
However, Chief Magistrate Ogoti questioned the decision, stating that there was no order from a Machakos court that the absence of an accused person would interfere with 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 proceedings in complete silence.
