Police boss seeks to withdraw assault case against Governor Sonko

Coast Regional Police Commander Rashid Yakub has filed an application seeking to withdraw the assault case against Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko (pictured).

According to the prosecution, the complainant (Yakub) is willing to withdraw the case since he is no longer interested in pursuing it.

Senior Resident Magistrate Frederick Nyakundi will give a ruling on the matter on Wednesday.

Sonko appeared in court on Tuesday morning to take plea on assault charges. He was to appear on December 18 but failed to show up. His lawyers cited health reasons.

The Governor who is also facing corruption charges was accused of assaulting Mr Yakub during his dramatic arrest last year in Voi.

He was expected to be charged with two other counts which include resisting arrest and disruption of peace during his arrest.

Yakub had accused Sonko of kicking him on the thigh and insulting other police officers during his arrest.

Four witnesses, among them Yakub and three other police officers, had been listed to testify in the case, with Yakub being the main witness.

Sonko’s troubles begun after the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji ordered his arrest over the alleged embezzling Sh357million of county funds.

He was arrested on December 7 at a roadblock in Voi and briefly held at the Voi SGR Police Station before being airlifted to Nairobi where he spent the weekend in police custody.

On December 9, the Governor was arraigned at Milimani law courts, Nairobi, where he denied 19 counts of corruption.

Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti released him on a Sh15million cash bail after denying the corruption charges levelled against him.