Senator Sonko’s matter in DPP Tobiko’s hands – State House

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu has said that the law will take its course regarding the utterances made by Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko on Friday.

In his weekly address in Kisumu on Sunday, Esipisu said that State House would not delve into the matter since it is already being handled by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko.

On Saturday, Tobiko directed Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to launch investigations into Sonko’s claims on Friday that he was the acting president, owing to the absence of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

“As we speak you (the Kamba community) have the position of the acting president of Kenya. President Uhuru is in Togo, DP Ruto is in France, I am the third in command; I am now the acting president of the republic of Kenya,” Sonko had said.

His utterances, at the funeral of Wavinya Ndeti’s husband Dolamy Oduwole in Machakos, have sparked outrage in the political circle with several leaders calling for legal action against the Senator.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr castigated Sonko over the remarks saying it was wrong for him to toy around with the president.

“Senator Sonko is my colleague, but I would like to apologise to Kenyans for belittling the office of the president. He is not and cannot be the acting president,” said Senator Mutula.

Sonko had claimed that he had been sent to represent the president at the funeral and read his speech on his behalf, and demanded to be accorded the respect that would President Uhuru.

“All these police officers that you see around are here because of me. I am the acting President of the Republic of Kenya.”

The service was thrown into disarray later into Senator Sonko’s address after he lashed out at the master of ceremony for demanding that he cuts short his speech.

Youth chanting Wiper party slogans make frantic efforts to shout down the Nairobi Senator who was then adamant that he must address the mourners.

The melee prompted CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula to leave the service prematurely.

Sources claim that contrary to Sonko’s remarks, Deputy President William Ruto was actually in the country at the time of his speech.

Even in the absence of the president and his deputy, the Constitution bestows the “presidential”
powers to the Speaker of the National Assembly, thus qualifying Sonko’s claims as treason.

The Nairobi Senator has however defended his pronouncement, blaming the media for altering the video clips to implicate him.

“I am appalled by news from a section of the press meant to tarnish my name following my obligated duty officially mandated by the office of the President to read his message conveyed to the family and friends of the late Henry Odwale, husband to hon. Wavinya Ndeti,” stated Sonko in a press released to media houses on Saturday.

“During the funeral ceremony attended by leaders affiliated to both political divides, I received orders from the Office of the President to read the president’s speech who was on official duty in Togo while his able deputy William Ruto was en route from France in the same capacity.”

The Senator said he is “saddened” by Keriako Tobiko’s move to have him (Sonko) investigated over the controversial remarks.

It is not yet clear what charges the DPP would prefer against Sonko over the claims.