Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has returned to his previous office at City Hall, almost three years after he was impeached. Mike Sonko (l) reunited with Johnson Sakaja (r) at City Hall. During the visit, Sonko reunited with the current officeholder, governor Johnson Sakaja. Taking to his X account on Friday, January 12, Sonko said they discussed matters touching on development in the county”Nairobi rebel leader and former governor HE Mike Mbuvi Sonko meets the current governor HE Johnson Sakaja in his office for peace talks. We have agreed to work together for the betterment of the good people of Kanairo,” Sonko posted. In July 2022, the Supreme Court dealt Sonko a big blow after it ruled that his impeachment was properly done. In a ruling delivered on Friday, July 15, the seven-judge bench dismissed Sonko’s appeal, in which he had argued that he was unprocedurally removed from the office. “The impeachment proceedings before the County Assembly and the Senate were properly conducted in accordance with Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Governments Act and Standing Orders of the Assembly and the Senate,” Supreme Court stated. In his appeal, Sonko argued that due process as delineated under Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Governments Act, 2012, and the Nairobi City County Assembly Standing Orders were not complied with. How the Supreme Court ruled on Mike Sonko’s matter The Court of Appeal and the High Court had previously dismissed Sonko’s appeal of his impeachment process. In its judgment, the Supreme Court emphasised that the provision of Chapter Six of the Constitution was meant for leaders to serve people and not rule them. “Chapter Six of the Constitution was not enacted in vain or for cosmetic reasons. The authority assigned to a State officer is a public trust to be exercised in a manner that demonstrates respect for the people; brings honour to the nation and dignity to the office; and promotes public confidence in the integrity of the office. It vests in the State officer the responsibility to serve the people, rather than the power to rule them,” the six-judge bench stated. The judgment ended his quest to succeed former Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho, as it rendered him unfit to hold any public office. Why Mike Sonko was impeached In December 2020, a section of the Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) voted to impeach the flamboyant politician The ward representatives supporting the motion anchored on violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct During the Thursday, December 03 session, 88 MCAs voted yes, two voted no, and 22 abstained from the voting process Speaker Benson Mutura announced the vote to remove Sonko confirming the two-thirds required to impeach the county boss
by Dennis Lubanga