Photos: Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko faces Senate

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko appeared before Senate over his impeachment motion on Wednesday.

Sonko walked into the house at around 11 am flanked by his legal team, led by Lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko with lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui appearing before Senate over his impeachment debate. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Sonko is facing a Senate plenary trial today and tomorrow (Thursday), after which his fate will be decided.

He is facing a myriad of charges upon which the Nairobi County MCAs impeached him, among them Gross violation of the Constitution or any other law, Abuse of office, Gross misconduct, and crimes under the national law.

Governor Mike Sonko accompanied by his legal team at Parliament buildings, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

On several occasions, the governor has made attempts to have court stop the Senate from holding the debate.

Already, there is a pending case in court where Sonko had pleaded with Justice Nduma Nderi to restrain the Senate from subjecting him to trial over allegations of misconduct.

The judge, however, declined the request and said he will issue a substantive ruling on the matter later this afternoon. That ruling is expected to be delivered at 3pm.

Senators getting ready to debate Governor Sonko’s impeachment motion. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Earlier, while making opening remarks before Senators, his lawyers argued that the accusations levelled against Sonko are anchored on witch-hunt and malice and therefore do not warrant his removal from office.

Kinyanjui asked: “If a man should be denied audience when they are faced with accusations and then sentence passed against them, isn’t that violation of the Constitution?”

Governor Mike Sonko accompanied by his legal team at Parliament buildings, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

But lead counsel for Nairobi County Assembly Ndegwa Njiru argued that Sonko had been irresponsible in his governance throughout and thus should vacate office.

“There is a price for everything and the price for accountability and integrity demands that the governor vacates office. The question of good governance cannot be compromised,” he said.

Senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Ledama ole Kina (Narok) arrive at Senate to hear charges against Governor Mike Sonko. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Sonko’s fate will be defined tomorrow when senators vote to either uphold or reject the assembly’s impeachment motion.