Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji on Tuesday, March 10, launched fresh accusations against embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
In the petition filed by the DPP challenging Sonko’s nomination of Anne Kananu Mwenda as deputy governor, arguing that she would be under the governor’s direct control and would have unlimited access to City Hall, is key to the graft case.
“The act of the 2nd respondent (Sonko) in nominating a deputy governor smacks of impunity and is calculated to intimidate and interfere with the witnesses in Anti-Corruption Case No.31 of 2019 and Anti-Corruption Case 32 of 2019 based at Nairobi County Assembly,” the court papers read in part.
The DPP further argued that Sonko had violated his bond terms by executing the role of Nairobi governor and nominating a DG amid a graft case. Haji alleged that Sonko had been illegally running the county from his Upper Hill office.
The DPP, therefore, called upon the court to annul Mwenda’s nomination, adding that any move to vet her for the role was unconstitutional and subverted a decision by the courts.
“The 2nd respondent claims that since he has not been suspended from office he still has the powers to conduct the functions of the office of the governor of Nairobi which illegally does from his private office in Upperhill,” the petition by the DPP read.
Haji disputed Sonko’s allegations that he had only been barred from physically accessing his office and not performing his role as ‘completely misguided.’ The DPP argued that the order to lock him out of office extended to the running of county affairs.
The DPP stated that Sonko would only be free to resume his duties when his case is fully heard and determined.
The embattled governor has in the recent past conducted oversight on county affairs from his Upper Hill office.
Prior to his nomination of Mwenda, Sonko had been accused of holding the county at ransom for failing to nominate a deputy since Polycarp Igathe’s resignation in January 2018.
Sonko solely ran the county until he fronted Mwenda as DG, days after the DPP had him barred from office for graft charges and abuse of office.
Mwenda was cleared for vetting by IEBC on February 11, however, the decision was halted by a court ruling by Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
