Embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been dealt a blow after the court declined to release his passport.as court declines to release his passport.
“The release of the passport is tantamount to review of my own orders which procedurely may lead to abuse office which the court is not ready to,” ruled Nairobi Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
Sonko made the application to the court asking for the release of his passports to enable him to travel to the United Arab Emirates for official duty.
In the application, the governor claimed that he has been invited to attend the 10th session of the World Urban Forum which takes place from the 8th to 13th February 2020.
“The applicant has been invited in his capacity as the governor of the Nairobi City County and is expected to engage in discussion with other participants on the theme of the forum,” read the court papers.
Convened by UN-Habitat, the Forum is a high-level, open and inclusive platform for addressing the challenges of sustainable urbanization.
The court also heard that the county boss is willing to submit himself to the conditions that may be deemed appropriate by the court as pertains to the release of his travel documents.
However, the prosecution objected the application saying they require time to verify the documents attached in his application and the validity of his letter of invitation
The court was told that Sonko has paid for the trip using his cards with the prosecution, adding that as a proof he was travelling for personal luxury as opposed to official duty.
“The list by Foreign Affairs was sent in September last year, letters of recommendation relied on by the applicant did not show whether the applicant was travelling on official duty, he did not attach clearance as required by government officials,” ruled the Anti-Corruption Court magistrate.
