Court ruling deals blow to stylish Nairobi Governor Sonko as crisis looms

NAIROBI, Kenya - Known as East Africa's commercial capital, Nairobi is staring at a crisis which could render service delivery dysfunctional following Friday's court ruling.

Already, embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was last week barred from accessing his office over corruption charges, a ruling that didn't surprise though.

But Appeals Court Judge Jamila Mohammed on Friday ruled that state officers battling corruption charges should not be allowed to access their offices, upholding an initial ruling by High Court.

The ruling, which was in response to appeal launched by Sonko's counterparts Ferdinand Waititu and Moses Kasaine, cemented the stylish governor's predicaments at City Hall.

“What message does it send to the citizens if their leaders are charged with serious corruption offences and are in office the following day, overseeing the affairs of the institution?” Jamila asked.

In her ruling, Justice Mohammed heavily assumed that every governor has a deputy who should be entrusted with the execution of duties in the absence of the boss.

“There have been circumstances in the past in which county governors have, for reasons of ill health been out of office, and given the fact that the constitution provides for the seat of a Deputy Governor, the counties have continued to function," she noted.

But contrary to the other two governors, Sonko has been running operations without a deputy for over 22 months, thus the possibility of a major crisis.

Polycarp Igathe, who resigned as deputy over "difficult working relationship", has never shown interest in coming back. Sonko has never made successful attempts to fill the gap.

But last week, Sonko faulted media, saying, “Why are you guys writing about a crisis at City Hall? There is one thing you journalists do not understand; that this is pure politics."

Further, he added: "The magistrate only said he was pronouncing himself on the corruption issue and not on the governor stepping aside."

Without a deputy and with the court permanently locking him out until the case is heard and determined, Nairobi could plunge into administration chaos.

Beatrice Elachi, the speaker of the assembly, last week said: "I have not received any motion for the impeachment of the governor".

With impeachment being practically impossible given Sonko's grip on assembly members, Nairobi could be subjected to a by-election should President Uhuru Kenyatta opt to dissolve the county.

Jubilee party, which sponsored Sonko's candidature in 2017, is understandably holding private meetings to seek an urgent solution to the looming crisis.

Besides the corruption charges Sonko is facing, authorities are pursuing him over alleged assault, which involves a top cop.

On Wednesday, Sonko snubbed police summons over assault saying "I am sick and cannot make it. I have deployed my attorney to represent me".

Nairobi contributes nearly 60 per cent of Kenya's GDP and is an important gateway to interior parts of the continent. It also plays host to UNEP.

The ruling by Judge Mohammed upheld an earlier declaration by High Court Judge Mumbi Ngugi, who barred governors battling graft charges from accessing office.

GAROWE ONLINE