Sonko’s impeachment promises fireworks

As Senate continues to hear charges against Governor Mike Sonko,  lawyers for both the Nairobi County Assembly are mounting spirited fights.

Making his opening remarks before Senators earlier, lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui claimed that his client  Governor Sonko was neither furnished with evidence on which MCAs relied on to impeach him.

The lawyer argued that the accusations levelled against Sonko were anchored on witch-hunt and malice and therefore do not meet the requisite requirements.

“If a man should be denied audience when they are faced with accusations and then sentence passed against them, isn’t that violation of the Constitution?” he posed.

Further, Sonko’s team raised concerns noting that the requirements of proceedings of impeachment at the county government were not met, and as such, warrant that the case should be thrown out.

But, making their case, Nairobi County Assembly lead counsel Ndegwa Njiru argued that the MCAs chose to impeach Sonko based on his governance, accountability, and integrity.

“We are having a case of a governor gone rogue. We will present evidence to the fact that the governor is not fit to hold office,” he said.

The team accused Sonko of governing the County recklessly.

“There is a price for everything and the price for accountability and integrity demands that the governor vacates office. The question of good governance cannot be compromised,” Njiru told Senate.

He added that the MCAs who unanimously voted to oust the governor held nothing personal against him.

Governor Sonko (pictured centre) is facing three main charges,

As read to Senators by the Clerk, he is facing at least 18 charges in three categories.  

i) Gross violation of the Constitution or any other law- under which he is accused of mishandling the county funds

ii) Abuse of office- Sonko is accused that he would harass county staff by threatening to end their contracts)

iii) Gross misconduct and crimes under the national law- which he is accused that he was constantly absent from office and would sometimes execute his duties from his Mua Hills home.

The Senate will hear all charges in plenary, and is expected to make the final decision by Thursday evening to either uphold or reject the decision by the Nairobi County Assembly.