A Kiambu court has remanded former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko for two days pending his bail and bond application ruling.
Sonko appeared before Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo who directed that the matter be heard tomorrow.
He was charged that on May 25, 2019, he forcibly and violently entered the property of Landmark International situated in Buru Buru. A second charge was that on the same day, he assaulted one Alex Kioko.
Sonko faced three more counts of assault and causing bodily harm to Musyoki Kavunda, Joel Kinja and John Mungai.
The prosecution objected to Sonko's release through an affidavit sworn by Directorate of Criminal Investigations Serious Crimes Unit Chief Inspector Geoffrey Ndatho.
Ndatho told that court that Sonko is a flight risk, and that he has no respect for the law going by past actions where he has absconded court attendance after being released on bond.
The affidavit further stated that Sonko had been charged in a Mombasa court in 2001 before obtaining anticipatory bail at the High Court in Nairobi.
"He failed to attend the subordinate court and a warrant of arrest was subsequently issued. We have annexed the documents,” Ndatho said.
The court also heard that the former governor is being investigated for other crimes
"Your honour, the respondent being a former Governor of Nairobi has contact with the residents of Nairobi and he can easily interfere with and intimidate the witnesses if he is released on bail,” Ndatho said.
The chief inspector told the court that Sonko was charged with serious offences that would require him to serve a custodial sentence if found guilty.
He added that other perpetrators believed to be the ex-governor's accomplices were still at large.
"Your honour, our key witnesses are known by Sonko. Their statements need to be protected and redacted for their safety before they testify. If the accused is released, he will get into contact with them and inflict real fear."
But lawyer John Khaminwa, who led Sonko's defence, said his client had been dragged to court over political differences.
"Your honour, we are edging closer to the dark days when abuse of power was rampant. Some people are using the criminal justice system to demean and punish individuals," Dr Khaminwa said.
He claimed that the affidavit before court was "bogus and fake and only engineered to tarnish the name of the governor. The Inspector General of Police and the DPP must remain independent and desist from being used for political reasons."
Khaminwa urged Ms Atambo not to be swayed by the contents of the affidavit. "Your honour, don’t be invited to consider this affidavit. Should you consider it, you will bring this honourable court to disrepute and history will judge you harshly."
He vouched for Sonko's reputation, saying he had been an MP, senator and governor.
"For my client to be elected to all these seats, he was cleared by the police, IEBC and KRA. The DCI gave him a certificate of good conduct. Sonko is a reputable person with great social standing."
There was a light moment in court when the lawyer said that if Sonko skipped court, he would stop representing him.
Khaminwa argued that Sonko was actually a whistle-blower and therefore deserved protection. "The DPP and the police cannot offer protection to my client but the court can."
Lawyer Danstan Omari told the court that Sonko had closely associated with President Uhuru Kenyatta and other senior State officials hence he could not be considered a flight risk.
