Sonko arrested in Voi ‘while escaping arrest’

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been arrested in Voi by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) while trying to escape arrest.

According to EACC, Sonko was attempting to escape at a road block in Voi when the detectives waylaid him.

“EACC confirms that Nairobi City County Governor Mike Sonko Mbuvi has been arrested while escaping arrest at a road block in Voi and is being transferred to Nairobi to face charges of corruption and economic crime,” read the tweet from EACC.

He is expected to arrive in Nairobi afterwhich he will be taken into police custody awaiting arraignment.

Sonko is alleged to have benefited from irregular procurement and payments amounting to Kshs.357, 390,299 million.

This comes barely three hours after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DPP) head Noordin Haji ordered for his arrest and prosecution over corruption allegations.

Sonko will be facing charges that include willful failure to comply with law relating to procurement, conflict of interest and abuse of office.

Other charges are unlawful acquisition of public property, deceiving principal, money laundering and acquisition of proceeds of crime.

Sonko will also be charged alongside senior County Officials, private and business entities accused of benefitting from suspect county funds.

DPP Haji further revealed that the Sonko case has been very challenging due to his attempts to interfere with the course of investigations as well as employing intimidation tactics including the use of goons to threaten investigating officers in the case.

“The investigations by EACC uncovered numerous instances of criminal conduct and a general disregard of the law by the governor and othes in charge,” said DPP Haji.

Meanwhile, EACC detectives have also taken into police custody Peter Mbugua Kariuki (County secretary) and Patrick Mwangangi (Head Supply Chain Management).