This archive report was first published on 27 February 2020.
On February 25, 2020, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko signed over the management of Nairobi County to the national government, a move witnessed by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, and Attorney General Paul Kihara.
As the national government takes over the functions of the Nairobi County Government, attention is now focused on Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji.
Since Governor Sonko's arrest in Voi in December 2019, the DPP has publicly dismissed any orders and directives issued by Sonko in relation to his office, citing that they were illegal.
According to the DPP, Sonko's actions were also against his bail terms, which barred him from executing his duties as governor until the determination of the corruption case facing him.
Magistrate Douglas Ogoti had granted Sonko a cash bail of Sh 15 million in December 2019, with the condition that he not access his office for the duration of the trial unless accompanied by an investigating officer or any other authorized person.
The High Court had also barred the Nairobi County Assembly from vetting Sonko's deputy governor nominee, Ann Mwenda, while he goes through trial.
As social media users wonder if the DPP will challenge the move, lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi questioned whether Sonko had the benefit of legal counsel in surrendering the county government to the national government.
