Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to spend five more nights in custody

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko will now spend five more nights in police custody after his bail ruling was pushed to Tuesday next week, a Kiambu court administrator has said.

The court directed that he be detained back at the Gigiri Police Station.

Sonko, who is facing multiple assault charges, spent Wednesday night at the Kamiti Maximum GK Prison where he was whisked to late evening, in an unprecedented move, from the Gigiri Police Station.

This came after an officer from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) swore an affidavit accusing Sonko of having terror links, hence seeking 30 days to detain him pending investigations.

Chief Inspector Newton Thimangu, in the affidavit, claimed to be in possession of intelligence information about Sonko allegedly recruiting a militia group to disrupt the peace and stability of the nation.

According to the Inspector, Sonko is suspected to have been procuring military attire associated with terrorist groups that pose a threat to the national security and sovereignty of the country.

“…the suspect has started arming his private security agents with full military attire namely military boots, military jungle uniform and firearms,” read the affidavit.

“The suspect who was in the company of an unknown person had worn militia attire and together with the suspect they were both spotted in public in the full glare of the media and in front of a huge mass of people in a public rally.”

Inspector Thimangu hence argued that this shows the alleged militia is ready to act and will soon be armed to trigger acts of war in Kenya.

“I have intelligence information that the suspect is connected to financing of terrorism activities and he is in the advance stage of procuring arms and ammunition using a wide syndicate which is complex and sophisticated,” he added.

“…the conduct of the suspect specifically from his social media accounts whose has a huge following and using his influence his role in facilitating intended attacks cannot be underestimated, as he is highly likely to interfere with potential witnesses and recovery that police expect to make.”