Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecution on Friday ordered the arrest of the Nairobi County governor Mike Sonko over graft allegations.
DPP Noordin Haji said there was sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution of the governor alongside several county officials following a review of the investigation file handed to the DPP by the EACC.
“I have ordered for the immediate arrest and arraignment of Sonko and other officials for the crimes of conflict of interest arising from having received money from the county of Nairobi while serving as governor,” Haji said.
“Investigation into these crimes have been challenging because of the repeated attempt by the accused to obstruct the cause of the investigations by deploying investigation tactics in addition to using goons to threaten law enforcement officials carrying out their constitutional mandate,” Haji added.
Those mentioned will be charged with:
1. Conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to Section 47A (3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
2. Willful failure to comply with law relating to procurement contrary to section 45 (2) (b) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
3. Conflict of interest contrary to section 42(3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
4. Abuse of office contrary to section 46 as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
5. Unlawful acquisition of public property contrary to section 45(1)(a) as read with sections 48 (1) and (2) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
6. Deceiving principal contrary to section 41 (2) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
7. Money laundering contrary to Sections 3(b)(i) as read with section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act No. 9 of 2009.
8. Acquisition of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 4 of Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act No. 9 of 2009.
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In September, Sonko was questioned by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers over allegations of failure to remit over Ksh 4.5 billion in taxes.
Mike Sonko, who is also facing allegations of corruption that touch on garbage collection tenders, was grilled yesterday, on 4th September 2019, by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission.
