Nairobi Governor Sonko to be Charged Afresh in Sh357 Million Graft Case as Charge Sheet is Amended

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has amended Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s charge sheet to include abuse of office charges.

As a result, Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti on Monday ordered Sonko to appear in court next Monday to take a fresh plea to the corruption charges.

Sonko is accused of demanding Sh10 million bribe from Web Tribe Limited in January 2019 in order to facilitate county government payments.

Sonko will be charged afresh together with ROG Security Limited and its director Otieno Ombok alias Jamal.

Sonko and his co-accused were in December last year charged with several graft-related charges over the alleged embezzlement of Sh357 million from Nairobi county government coffers.

He denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh15 million or an alternative bond of Sh30 million with a surety of a similar amount. The court also barred Governor Sonko from accessing his office until the case is heard and determined.

On Monday, the anti-corruption court announced the case will be heard in 28 days with each day allocated five hours and no adjournments will be allowed.

The court further directed the prosecution to submit a schedule of how witnesses will be called to the stand, seven days to the hearing.

The prosecution has lined up 20 witnesses to testify against the accused persons and has ruled out the possibility of a plea bargain.