The High Court has dismissed former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s bid to get back Sh15 million he deposited as cash bail when he was charged with corruption and abuse of office.
Sonko had requested the court to substitute the cash bail with three motor vehicle logbooks offered by an unnamed individual but High Court Judge Esther Maina dismissed the application.
Justice Maina ruled that there was no sufficient basis for the application, adding that it should have been made at the trial court.
Through his lawyer Phillip Kaingu, Sonko told the court that he was broke and he needed cash to attend to his health, settle school fees for his children, pay his advocates, and meet other daily needs of his family.
The cash bail was deposited in court in December 2019 in two tranches, with the first Sh5 million being wired from Sonko’s account while Sh10 million was deposited by Anne Kananu Mwenda, the current Governor for Nairobi. The Sh10 million was raised by friends and family members.
The attorney said the former governor had secured a surety who was willing to deposit the logbooks of three vehicles as security to release the cash bail.
“The motor vehicles have a cumulative assessed value of Sh30.4 million and are also comprehensively insured,” read court papers.
“Ever since he was released from custody, he has religiously been abiding (by the) terms of his release and has continually attended court for hearing and mention. More than 10 witnesses have already testified in the three cases facing Sonko and there is no risk of flight on his part.”
Sonko, who was impeached in December 2020, wanted the court to release the cash bail to his lawyer after all his bank accounts were frozen due to allegations of corruption, money laundering, and possessing proceeds of crime.
Following an application by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), Sonko’s 10 bank accounts holding over Sh18 million were frozen last year on suspicion that the money was stolen from the Nairobi County government.
Mbuvi should approach his…
Mbuvi should approach his comrades in drug business,kina Owino,Kabogo,Mwau,Wanjala etc who can led/give him some millions to continue enjoying his life.After all the case will be dismissed as most of the witnesses shared the loot with gangster Sonko.
$18 Million was pocket…
$18 Million was pocket change. Why is the $400 plus million he stole or illegally acquired through drug proceeds not stated in this report yet the same is in hansard records????