"Please don’t drag the Judiciary into political squabbles" Sonko Defends Self
Former Nairobi Boss Mike Mbuvi Sonko defended himself on Thursday, July 14th on claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta had influenced the court's decision to clear him to run for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat after agreeing to back Polycarp Igathe.
Christine Juma 
The former Nairobi Governor maintained that the Judiciary, led by Chief Justice Martha Karambu Koome, is an autonomous body over which the President has no authority.
"Constitutionally and as a Kenyan citizen, I am entitled to justice just like any other Kenyan. The court had already indicated it would deliver its judgment hours before I met the Azimio bigwigs.
"Please don’t drag the Judiciary into political squabbles. The judgment delivered on Wednesday morning must have been written way before my Tuesday evening’s meeting with Azimio leaders," Sonko stated.
The three-judge bench of justices O.A. Sewe, S. Githinji, and Lady Justice Ong'injo concluded that Sonko had met all of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) conditions to run for the top seat in Mombasa.
Hon Mike Sonko with Azimio presidential aspirant Raila Odinga. PHOTO TWITTER
The justices directed the IEBC to list Mike Sonko as a Wiper contender in the Mombasa governorship election.
Sonko went on to say that despite their prior disagreements, he has extended an olive branch to both President Uhuru and Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Earlier the IEBC had rejected Sonko`s Papers that he had submitted with claims that he had been impeached and thus this was making him impossible to vie for the position.
The court, however, ruled that the election commission's decision to reject Sonko's papers violated the constitution because an appeal against his impeachment was ongoing before the Supreme Court.
Sonko's name was not on the list of gazetted candidates cleared to run for various elective seats in the 2022 General Election.
Mombasa Gubernatorial aspirant Mike Sonko.PHOTO FILE
This raised suspicions because some of the candidates whose ability to run in the August elections had been challenged had been cleared.
IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati stated on June 3rd that Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission {EACC} wanted 241 aspirants barred over integrity issues, including two running for President, one who was seeking clearance as a running mate, 61 for governor, six for Senate, 19 for Woman Rep, 58 for MP, and 94 for MCA.
“For those who have been convicted but have an appeal, the commission follows the direction of Article 99 (3) which says that, as long as you have an appeal, we cannot stop you from running and I think that’s why the returning officer in Sirisia cleared Sirisia MP John Waluke,” said Mr. Chebukati.
“But, based on Article 75 of the constitution, individuals who have been impeached will stay impeached and we shall treat them as such,” he added.
