This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
December 12, 2019, marked the 56th Jamhuri Day celebrations in Kenya, but Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was noticeably absent from the event held at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
However, Sonko took to social media to express his well-wishes to Kenyans, tweeting, 'I am happy to join the rest of Kenyans in marking the 56th Jamhuri Day celebrations… To all Nairobi residents and Kenyans at large I wish y'all a happy Jamhuri Day.'
As the governor of Nairobi, Sonko has traditionally been a part of national celebrations held in the county. His absence at this year's event sparked curiosity, especially given his recent release from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
On Wednesday, Sonko was released on a Sh30 million bond with a surety of a similar amount or Sh15 million cash bail after spending two days in custody. However, Magistrate Douglas Ogoti barred Sonko from accessing his office.
It remains unclear why Sonko chose to stay away from the Jamhuri Day celebrations, but his social media post suggests that he was still committed to marking the occasion.
