Sonko asks court to allow him travel to Abu Dhabi

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko in a Nairobi court on January 15, 2020. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • According to the DPP, Sonko cannot travel on official duty to represent Nairobi.
  • Upon release, the flamboyant county chief was required to be seeking permission of the court before travelling.

The State has opposed Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's request to have his passport and travel documents released by court so as to attend a conference sponsored by the UN-Habitat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next week.

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sonko, having been barred from accessing his office last December by the anti-corruption court, cannot travel for official duties to represent Nairobi.

According to the DPP, Sonko is incapable of executing his official constitutional duties as a governor following a ruling dated December 11, 2019 that barred him from accessing his office due to a pending graft case.

TENTH SESSION

Milimani Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti heard that the embattled city boss has been invited to attend the 10th session of the World Urban Forum which takes place from February 8-13 in Abu Dhabi.

Through lawyer George Kithi, the governor said his Kenyan and diplomatic passports are in custody of the court, having deposited them on December 11, 2019 as a condition to have him released from detention on bond.

Upon release, the flamboyant county chief was required to be seeking permission of the court before travelling.

Mr Kithi said the governor was invited to the conference in his capacity as the governor of Nairobi County and is expected to engage in discussions with other participants on the theme of the forum. He will also have bilateral engagements at the conference.

“The forum is important to the people of Nairobi as it is a strategic opportunity for multi-stakeholder cooperation in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Especially in making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and resilient and sustainable,” said the lawyer.

In the application certified urgent, the governor indicated that he was willing to provide surety that the court may impose to secure his return to Kenya.

HONESTY

To convince the court on the honesty of the governor’s intention, the lawyer provided Sonko’s travel booking documents, his address of temporary domicile in Abu Dhabi, and telephone contacts of the hotel where he will be staying.

Mr Kithi also produced the invitation letter sent to the governor by UN-Habitat executive director Maimunah Mohd Sharif.

But the DPP said the invitation letter needs verification to confirm its authenticity while questioning the governor’s intention to ask for his travel documents a few days to the conference date.

Looking at the documents produced in court by the governor, the prosecution said that Sonko had made the bookings of travelling and hotel using his personal finances and resources.

OFFICIAL DUTIES

It was also noted that since Sonko had stated that he is travelling for official duties, he had not attached a clearance to travel by the government of Kenya.

“Though the session is sponsored by the UN-Habitat, looking at the documents, the accused has made personal reservations and made payments using personal debit cards. Therefore he is not travelling for official duty rather than personal luxury and so he should not be granted the requests,” the prosecution submitted.

But Mr Kithi responded that the prosecution should not comment on Sonko’s use of personal resources to fly to UAE, because the DPP does not know the financial arrangements made by the UN-Habitat. The court will make its ruling tomorrow.