Probe Sonko on graft at City Hall, senators urge anti-graft team
By Rawlings, July 26, 2023
A Senate watchdog committee has asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to open inquiries into wanton financial malpractices during the three-year tenure of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at City Hall.
The Senate County Public Accounts committee directed the anti-corruption body to launch investigations into the loss of public funds running into billions of shillings.
In addition, the watchdog committee recommended that Sonko be surcharged Sh4 million his administration incurred in 2018 as payment to 33 police officers who were guarding the then-governor during a 22-day trip to Mombasa.
The senators also raised an issue with the Sh14.4 million flagged by the auditor general as used by the county government for intelligence gathering and countering terrorism in Nairobi.
“The committee has resolved that EACC recovers directly from Mike Sonko Sh4 million paid to the police officers. The money should be charged on him personally for violating the Public Officers Ethics Act,” said committee chair Senator Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay).
According to Kajwang’ the matter is ‘an open and shut case’ which should not take EACC more than six months to prosecute.