Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko can breathe a sigh of relief after one of the two petitioners withdrew his claim to prevent him from running for Mombasa gubernatorial seat.
Through his lawyer Titus Kirui, the first petitioner, Ndoro Kayuga claimed that he had realised Sonko’s impeachment case was more political than legal.
“That however on the same day in the evening of 25th April 2022, the 1st respondent (Mike Sonko) appeared on Kenya Television Network, a national television, as a guest in segment called “Check point” where he articulated in detail his tribulations as the governor of Nairobi county,” said Kayuga.
According to his counsel Kirui, with an appeal by the besieged governor over his impeachment pending in the Supreme Court, Kayuga’s motion to bar Sonko would be denied on the grounds that it was premature.
“I am advised by counsel which advice I believe to be verily true that based on the pending appeal at the Supreme Court, the current petition is therefore premature and may suffer from the doctrine of ripeness if the same proceeds,” the petition read.
Sonko was impeached and removed from the office of Nairobi Governor on December 17, 2020, for breaking Article 75 (1) (c) of the Constitution by behaving in a manner that degraded the position of a county governor.
“The 1st Respondent, having been impeached and removed from the office of the Governor of Nairobi City County, is disqualified from vying for and being elected into the office of the Governor of Mombasa County and from holding any other State office by virtue of Article 75 (3) of the Constitution,” read the petition.
George Odhiambo, the second petitioner, has not yet withdrawn his case, which would prevent Sonko from running for the Mombasa gubernatorial under the Wiper Democratic Party.
However, following the confusion in court as a result of the new developments, the judge permitted the case to be deferred until May 10th.
