Sonko secretary seeks orders to have him taken to hospital, claims the governor is ailing

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 7 Dec, 2019 17:24 | 2 mins read
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. [PHOTO | FILE]
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. PHOTO | FILE
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. [PHOTO | FILE]

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s private secretary, Ben Mulwa, claims the county chief, who is currently in custody at the EACC holding cell, is ailing and that he should be taken to hospital.

Mulwa claims that Sonko has stomach complications and that he sustained injuries to his arm, which require urgent medical attention.

The county boss’ secretary told K24 Digital that he is speaking to Sonko’s lawyer, Cecil Miller Jr, to make a formal request to authorities to allow the governor seek medical care, terming his health situation as “serious”.

Sonko was taken to the EACC holding cell on Friday evening (December 6) after High Court judge John Onyiego denied the governor anticipatory bail.

Sonko, through his lawyer Cecil Miller Jr, had moved to court in the afternoon seeking his Friday morning arrest over graft charges overruled.

The governor, who is accused of misappropriating the taxpayers’ Ksh357 million, was, ordered to spend the weekend in lawful detention, awaiting his arraignment on Monday, December 9.

While rejecting Sonko’s application, Justice Onyiego said he wanted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Noordin Haji, to respond to the governor’s claim that his rights were violated by EACC officials during his Friday arrest.

The judge ordered that the DPP be served with the application by Monday 8am. The matter will be heard at 9am on the same day, said Justice Onyiego.

The judge further observed that anticipatory bail cannot be issued to anyone facing arrest, because lawful detention is allowed by the supreme law.

Sonko was arrested Friday mid-morning on a roadblock in Voi, Taita Taveta, County.

Besides the county chief, other City Hall officials expected to be arrested and charged in court over corruption allegations include: Secretary Peter Mbugua, members of the tender committee Patrick Mwangangi, Samuel Ndung’u, Edwin Kariuki,

Lawrence Mwangi, Preston Miriti among others.

DPP Noordin Haji said Sonko and the mentioned officials will face charges of conspiracy to commit economic crime, willful failure to comply with the law and conflict of interest.

Haji further said the anti-graft agency, EACC, commenced investigations into the alleged crimes in October 2019, and sufficient evidence was gathered to sustain the suspects’ prosecution.