Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has accused his former legal team of betraying him during his impeachment battle, alleging that his lawyers held secret meetings with senior State House officials to frustrate his attempt to challenge his removal from office.
Testifying in his ongoing corruption case before Justice Charles Ondieki, Sonko presented video evidence which he claimed exposed behind-the-scenes dealings involving his former lawyer Cecil Miller, former Deputy State House Controller George Kariuki and former High Court judge Said Chitembwe.
Sonko told the court that his application seeking conservatory orders to stop his impeachment was abandoned after alleged discussions between his lawyers and senior government officials.
According to his testimony, Miller attended meetings at State House, including one involving former President Uhuru Kenyatta, where the possibility of withdrawing legal representation was allegedly discussed.
Sonko further claimed that money was transferred to Miller’s bank account and that meetings took place involving the lawyer and Chitembwe concerning the application.
He said the legal developments left him without the representation he had expected as he pursued his case in court.
The former governor also used the courtroom to defend his record on corruption, presenting videos showing confrontations with individuals he accused of grabbing private property in Parklands, Pangani and Adam’s Arcade.
He alleged that some land grabbers operated through companies linked to City Hall officials, using court orders to facilitate the eviction of legitimate property owners.
Sonko told the court that, after becoming governor, he received information about alleged corruption within the county administration and claimed that individuals linked to the county’s revenue operations presented him with 70 million shillings.
He said he took the money to State House to demonstrate the scale of the alleged corruption.
He denied participating in graft, maintaining that his opposition to transferring certain county functions and revenue streams to the National Government contributed to his political troubles.
Sonko said he had consulted his legal team, which advised him that there was no legal framework for the proposed transfer of services, including infrastructure and county revenue.
The allegations concerning his former lawyers, State House officials and the judge formed part of Sonko’s account to the court.
They remain claims made during his testimony and should not be treated as established findings of wrongdoing.
Sonko’s testimony has introduced a political dimension to his defence, with the former governor seeking to connect his legal troubles to alleged attempts to undermine him during his impeachment.
The court proceedings continue as the evidence is examined.
Sonko was elected Nairobi governor in 2017 and was impeached in December 2020 following a political fallout that unfolded amid disputes over the management of the county and its relationship with the National Government.
His latest testimony forms part of his defence in an ongoing corruption case, in which he maintains that he was not involved in graft.
