Nairobi lawyer files petition for removal of Governor Sonko from office

A Nairobi resident has filed a petition in court seeking to have Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko declared unfit to hold office.

In his petition, Boniface Nyamu, an Advocate of the High Court, has cited several grounds for Sonko’s removal among them the recent ban on matatus from the Central Business District.

He has also accused the governor of verbally assaulting a Member of County Assembly, recording private phone calls and refusing to nominate a deputy governor.

“When we were electing the Governor, we elected him alongside his deputy governor in consideration that they would complement each other in terms of politics and development but immediately the respondent was sworn in, he started frustrating his deputy until the Deputy governor resigned,” argues the lawyer.

The lawyer alleges that ever since Sonko was elected, he has “reneged on all his promises and is totally clueless on what is happening in the city.”

He wants the court to bar the governor from transacting any county business until the case is heard and determined.

“The Respondent herein has engaged in different acts of gross misconduct that are insulting to the people of Nairobi and violated the obligations conferred to him under the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 as the duly elected Governor of Nairobi City County therefore making him unfit to hold any public office,” claims Mr. Nyamu.

He argues that although Nairobi is a business and commercial hub in the Eastern Africa region, it has become unworkable and unlivable because Sonko has become negligent in his duties and roles of running the city.

The petitioner further claims that Sonko has been busy with “side shows and publicity stunts” and conitnues to blame his predecessor, Evans Kidero and Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho for his failures.