Feb, 9th 2021 – Two key court rulings will be made today that will determine whether former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko will continue being incarcerated or freed.
Kiambu Chief Magistrate will this morning first rule on Sonko’s application to be released on bond in a multiple assault and robbery with violence cases.
Later, the Kahawa West Court will also make a ruling on Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) detectives’ application to allow them detain Sonko for 30 days to enable them conclude investigations into his alleged link to terrorism.
ATPU boss John Gachomo has confirmed that they are holding nine suspects, who are expected to be charged alongside Sonko.
His legal team is however concerned about reports that the police plan to revive old cases believed to be unsettled. One of the lawyers’ concerns is about a file in Mombasa that is missing.
He said, “We have reliably been informed that they want to revive old cases and we intend to challenge the attempts. We don’t know why they want to revive a matter that was dealt with years back. We will fight the attempts.”
He added that the police notified them of the new investigations on old cases involving Sonko’s release from jail by a judge based on papers he presented.
Sources say that officers from the Serious Crimes Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations visited Mombasa court and Shimo La Tewa prisons as part of efforts to revive the case.
The police are accusing Sonko of recruiting a militia which is likely to threaten security. An affidavit by ATPU chief Inspector Newton Thimangu says that the former governor has been wearing military atire associated with terrorism groups. The groups threaten the sovereignty of the country.
Part of the affidavit read, “The suspect herein has started arming his private security agents with full military attire namely military boots, military jungle uniforms and firearms.”
It added, “The suspect who was in company of unknown persons had worn militia attire and together with the suspect they were both spotted in public in full glare of the media and in front of huge mass of people in a public rally.”