Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has revealed that he is unable to provide for his family’s needs.
In an application filed at the High Court, Sonko who was impeached earlier this year as the Nairobi County boss also said that he is not able to pay school fees for his children.
Sonko now wants the court to release Ksh15 million he deposited as cash bail in a graft case against him.
In the application, Sonko asked the court to instead take any of his assets as security in order to save him from a financial crisis that has hit his family.
“I am requesting the court to enable me access the money for purposes of attending to my health, pay my lawyers, paying school fees for my young ones and cater for my daily needs and those of my family,” the politician said in the application.
He said that he did not have a source of income especially after all his personal accounts were frozen by the courts.
Sonko said that since the freezing took place he has gone through a hard time taking care of his family.
In exchange of the money, Sonko paraded three high-end vehicles estimated to cost Ksh30 million that he wants substituted in order for him to get the cash.
Philip Kaingu, who is Sonko’s lawyer said that his client was not in any way planning to abscond court proceedings.
The lawyer argued that the graft cases Sonko is facing have eun smoothly meaning that he is willing to follow the matter until the end.
“The graft cases against him have proceeded well with more than 10 witnesses which means there is no risk of him absconding court. It is in the interest that he be allowed to substitute the cash bail to enable him fend for his family,” said Kaingu.
The embattled governor told the court that he raised Ksh5 million by himself and friends assisted him raise Ksh10 million.
Sonko also refuted claims that the money was paid by Anne Kananu who is the current Nairobi Deputy Governor saying that she was only a treasurer in the collection of the funds.
The ex- Governor was in December 2019 charged with graft as he was accused of conspiring to embezzle funds from the city county coffers.
