Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko is appearing before Anti-Corruption
Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti today (Monday) with a backlog of
corruption charges, which he has denied.
However, the major controversy surrounding Sonko’s case has
come to the public lime light as a surprise with questions of accountability
culminating from his 12-member-defense team.
Reports have it that the governor has employed a battery of lawyers,
led by lawyer Cecil Miller Jnr, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, his
Makueni counterpart Mutula Kilonzo Jr, and Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo.
Also in Sonko’s defence team are lawyers Nelson Havi, George
Kithi, Alphonse Mutinda, Osundwa Michael, Harrison Kinyanjui, Kwanga Mboya, and
two other advocates only identified as Mangolo and Philip.
The major concern lies with government officials
representing the embattled governor, especially senators, defending him against
corruption offenses.
Kenyans have took issues with Senate members Kipchumba
Murkomen and Mutula Kilonzo Jr, saying it is their duty to oversight county
operations and not to defend corruption in the decentralized governments.
Governor Sonko defense team. Image|Courtsy
Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut wrote on his twitter handle that
Senators bit to represent corrupt county leaders is a sort of ‘electorate
disillusionment’.
Senators, whose
primary responsibility is oversight and legislation on counties and devolution,
are lead counsels in Sonko’s corruption trial. From a governance standpoint,
‘Electorate disillusionment?’
Senators, whose primary responsibility is oversight and legislation on counties & devolution, are lead counsels in Sonko's corruption trial. From a governance standpoint, 'Electorate disillusionment?'
— Hon. William Chepkut (@Chepkut_William) December 9, 2019
In a twit, Political analyst cum reporter David Makali said
that senators and othr government officials should honour chapter 6 of the
Kenyan Constitution, which touches on interegrity, something they have failed
on.
Chapter 6. Integrity,
ethics and honour to your office and all that… these senators have failed
flat. No. It is not just work. It is conflict of interest and unprincipled. Mike
Sonko has a right to be represented but not by you…James Orengo ,Otiende Amollo
among others.
BBI intervention
Many have called for need to have legislations barring state
officials, who are professional lawyers, from defending corrupt government
officials in the court of law.
They call on the Building Bridges Initiative team to revisit
this and have it included in its recommendation report before full
implementation.
There’s one thing that
BBI should be amended to include. That anyone on public payroll should not
represent anyone accused of theft of public funds in any court of law. This
would put an end to akina Murkomen, Orengo, Maanzo among others from appearing
for corrupt people. -@Karanimutonga
Judiciary should work
independently so as Legislature. If they are in the legislature they should
keep of the Judiciary. -@langat_jr
Governor Sonko is charged with various graft related charges
including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, failure to comply with
procurement laws, conflict of interest, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition
of public property and assault to the police officer.
Charged alongside the governor include Web Tribe Limited,
ROG Security Limited, Hardi Enterprises Limited and Toddy Civil Engineering
Limited and their directors.
The companies are believed to have benefited from funds
irregularly acquired from the Nairobi County Government.
