Audio recording between Sonko and JamboPay director played in court
A grim evidence with a detailed conversation that transpired between the Director of JamboPay, Danson Muchemi, and the former Nairobi County Governor, Michael Mbuvi Sonko, trying to lure him to work with him was presented in court.
The evidence presented to court was an audio clip that was recorded by Chief Inspector Kiptoo Kisoroi on January 1, 2019, when he was sent together with another officer to Sonko’s Kanamai residence in Kilifi County, after he had sought their assistance.
You might also like
The 57-minute audio recording was played before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki on Thursday, July 17, 2025, during defense hearing of the Ksh20 million graft case facing Sonko and businessman Anthony Ombok Jamal.
According to the clip, JamboPay’s boss was heard promising Sonko money amounting to Ksh5 million daily as a kickback for giving him the tender to collect revenue within Nairobi County.
“If you allow me to work with you, utakua unapata between Ksh3 million and Ksh5 million daily, depending on how we run this,” the voice in the recording said.
According recording, director Muchemi was also captured telling Sonko how the revenue collection system operated under his predecessor, Governor Evans Kidero, while outlining plans to continue with similar practices under Sonko.
“Kwa five years Kidero alitengeneza Ksh7 billion kwa hii revenue collection digital system pekee yake,”Muchemi told Sonko.
“City Hall is entirely invaded by cartels, corruption imejaa, and unless we take control, hatuwezi enda mbali,” Muchemi is captured in the clip saying.
Cross-examination
During cross-examination by lawyer Assa Nyakundi, after the recording was played in court, Kisorio said that the audio is a confirmation to court that Muchemi was offering Ksh5 million bribes to the Sonko.
He also told the court that he could identify the voices of three key individuals, including former Governor Sonko, Danson Muchemi, and that of former Nairobi County Majority Leader, who is the current Isiolo County Governor Abdi Guyo.
“From the recording, it is clear the governor wanted to understand how the system operated and how the revenue was collected,” Kisorio told the court
“At some point Muchemi was telling him how they used to make payment and also use the same receipt to collect some other money,” Kisorio told the court.
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Kisoroi, who is currently the Sub-County Police Commander in Hulugho, Garissa County, told the court that he had an audio containing vital information that was recorded after the former County boss sought their assistance at Mtwapa Police Station.
He told court that on January 1, 2019, when he was stationed at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Mtwapa as Police Constable, the Deputy DCIO called him to his office where he met the former Governor.
He then briefed him that the governor was seeking their assistance in recording the incriminating bribery conversation between him and Muchemi, who was to visit him at his Kanamai residence in Kilifi County.
After the briefing, Kisoroi told court he booked an OB 35/10/01/2019, at the Mtwapa Police Station, and proceeded to issue Sonko with a Sony ICD-PX 470 audio recorder (serial number 1161788) to secretly capture their conversation.
They also showed him how to use the device, and they hid in another room as they waited to bounce on Muchemi on any attempt to bribe Sonko.
He informed the court that he had come with a CD on which the recording was captured, and said that it was 57 minutes and 16 seconds, seeking permission to play the audio as part of his evidence.
“We believe the audio evidence will further shed light on the depth of corruption in the revenue collection tender,” Kisorio told the court.
