It is a witch hunt on me, Sonko declares after EACC summonses

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko leaving EACC offices at Integrity Center on August 1, 2019. [David Gichuru/Standard]

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been summoned by the anti-graft agency for allegedly lying in his self-declaration form when he sought clearance to contest for governorship.

Sonko has a date with Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigators next Tuesday to set the record straight over his past activities and pending cases.

“The commission would like you to respond to these allegations and record a statement regarding the same. To this end, you are required to appear at the EACC headquarters integrity centre, Nairobi, on November 5 at 10 am to facilitate investigations,” reads the letter dated October 28 addressed to the governor by the EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak.

Insiders within EACC said the governor’s tribulations are linked to possible records of court convictions which were not declared in the declaration form.

“The commission will also question him on his academic papers. The probe will seek to establish if he falsified them,” said an official who didn’t want to be quoted.

Sonko risks a five-year jail term or a Sh5 million fine, or both, if found guilty.

The governor has alleged witch-hunt, accusing the EACC of intimidating him in its latest move.

The governor said there are some people out to frustrate him in his work.

He said he will soon name those behind the scheme.