Governor Sonko Hospitalized After Falling Sick at Kamiti Prison

Embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was on Monday night rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after he reportedly fell ill while in police custody.

Sonko, who was detained on Monday pending a ruling on his bail application on Wednesday, was taken to hospital hours after he was allegedly transferred from Industrial Area Remand Prison to Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.

During a hearing on his bail application on Monday, Sonko’s lawyers pleaded with the magistrate to free him on bond, arguing that he needed urgent medical attention. The lawyers claimed that their client sustained rib injuries after he was allegedly assaulted by police officers during his arrest last Friday.

Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti directed that Sonko’s admission to hospital be approved by prison authorities after an examination.

“Due to the urgency of the medical treatment of accused one (Mike Sonko), though disputed, it’s ordered that his admission to hospital will be certified by the prisons medical center in the presence of his physician in order to be escorted to any other hospital for his medical attention as soon as that can be arranged,” the magistrate noted.

The court also directed Sonko is held at Industrial Area Remand Prison pending his bail ruling on Wednesday but was later moved to Kamiti Maximum Prison for a medical check-up.

Governor Sonko was on Monday charged with several counts of corruption relating to irregular payment of Sh357 million. Sonko and his 11 co-accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.