Relief for Sonko as court temporarily stops impeachment motion against him

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko can now breathe a sigh of relief after the court temporarily stopped the County Assembly from debating an impeachment motion against him.

Justice Nzioka wa Makau on Tuesday issued conservatory orders against the motion pending hearing and determination of a case filed by the embattled county boss.

Justice Makau hence barred the Nairobi County Assembly Speaker and their Senate counterpart from presiding over any session to deliberate the impeachment motion.

Kileleshwa Ward MCA Michael Ogada, who is also the Nairobi County Assembly Minority Leader, last week tabled the motion seeking Sonko’s ouster on among other grounds abuse of office and graft.

The legislator argued that Sonko has been in and out of courtrooms on various cases and is therefore unfit to hold public office.

Sonko was on Monday briefly detained as police fired teargas to disrupt a meeting with sections of Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) allied to him.

The Nairobi Governor, in exploring all options to block his planned impeachment, and in a letter dated November 27 addressed to the Assembly Speaker, cited an already existing order barring his removal from office.

“By your purporting to process a fresh impeachment motion against Hon. Mike Sonko Mbuvi while these proceedings are pending, you have committed an act of intentional disrespect to these judicial proceedings…which constitutes contempt of court,” read the letter from his lawyer Harrison Kinyajui.