Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Thursday took the witness stand in his ongoing Ksh20 million corruption case, telling a Nairobi court that powerful interests targeted him because of his long-standing fight against graft.
The trial court had earlier directed Sonko and his co-accused, businessman Erastus Ombok, to begin their defence in February 2025 after finding that prosecutors had established a prima facie case against them.
Sonko and Ombok face multiple charges, including abuse of office, conflict of interest, money laundering, and acquiring proceeds of crime. Prosecutors allege that Sonko demanded Ksh20 million in connection with county government dealings while serving as Nairobi governor, claims he has consistently denied.
“My fight against corruption began in Parliament”
In his testimony, Sonko told the magistrate’s court that his anti-corruption crusade began long before he became Nairobi governor, tracing it back to his time as a Member of Parliament and later a Senator.
“I have fought corruption fearlessly and without compromise,” Sonko told the court.
“My war against corruption did not begin yesterday. It started when I was a Member of Parliament and continued during my service in the Senate.”
He said corruption had deeply infiltrated the former City Council of Nairobi even before the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, and continued to flourish under the county government system that followed.
According to Sonko, land grabbers, cartels, and senior government officials worked together to illegally dispose of public assets, particularly public land.
Sonko says stance against graft made him enemies
Sonko told the court that he could not remain silent in the face of corruption, given his constitutional oversight role as a legislator. He claimed his actions put him on a collision course with powerful individuals and networks.
“Regrettably, powerful individuals and networks whose interests were threatened by my actions decided to fight back,” he said.
To support his defence, Sonko asked the court to consider video clips and other publicly available materials, which he said demonstrate his consistent efforts to expose corruption during his time in Parliament.
He argued that the evidence would show he acted to protect public resources, uphold the rule of law, and defend the Constitution.
Court reviews video evidence on alleged land grabbing
During the hearing, the court watched a video clip showing Sonko, then an MP, addressing the National Assembly over an alleged land-grabbing scheme involving a public primary school in Westlands.
In the clip, Sonko accused private developers and senior officials of colluding to grab land reserved for the school.
He told the court that the alleged land grabbers attempted to bribe him to stop opposing the scheme.
“They offered me Sh8 million,” Sonko said, adding that he rejected the offer and reported the matter to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“By the time I raised the issue in Parliament, an obtained court order was already in favour of the grabbers,” Sonko told the court. He said he sought to be enjoined in the High Court case to challenge the decision.
Sonko claimed that after his intervention and legal action, the court eventually overturned the order.
“My record shows I fought graft, not committed it”
Sonko also cited other instances where he said he stood up against corruption and abuse of office, arguing that his record shows a consistent pattern of resisting graft rather than engaging in it.
He maintained that the charges against him stem from retaliation by powerful interests unsettled by his anti-corruption stance.
The hearing continues as the court evaluates Sonko’s defence and reviews the evidence he has presented to support his claims.
