This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was scheduled to face assault and resisting arrest charges at Voi Law Courts on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, but failed to show up.
According to his lawyers, Cecil Miller Jnr, Salim Mwadumbo, Jared Magolo, and George Kithi, Sonko was too sick to attend the session and was recuperating at home under doctors' orders.
Senior Resident Magistrate Frederick Mayaka Nyakundi ordered Sonko to be arraigned on January 21st, 2020, and directed him to present himself at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Voi before appearing in court on that date.
Sonko is accused of fighting police officers when he was arrested at a roadblock in Voi on December 6th, 2019, over corruption allegations.
He is alleged to have assaulted Coast Regional Police Commander Rashid Yakub and insulted other officers during the dramatic arrest.
“During the arrest, he became abusive, unruly and violent in an attempt to resist hence obstructing police officers from the lawful execution of their duties. In the process, he assaulted and injured the senior police officer leading the team and damaged media equipment,” National Police Service spokesperson Charles Owino said in a statement.
Earlier, Sonko had been freed on a cash bail of Sh15 million after pleading not guilty to corruption-related charges before Milimani Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
