The Kenyan police have sealed off the Milimani Law Court where Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko is expected to face graft related charges on Monday, reported Reuters.
The police have set up barriers on streets around the court and diverted traffic in anticipation of possible trouble after Sonko’s supporters called for protests. In November, police had to use teargas to disperse hundreds of supporters who gathered around the anti-corruption office where their leader was called for questioning.
Sonko, a member of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee Party, was arrested on Friday over charges of corruption, failure to comply with laws related to procurement, unlawful acquisition of public property and laundering the proceeds of crime. Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji had ordered for Sonko’s arrest as he said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had yielded sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against him.
Elected as governor in 2017, the former senator is known for his luxurious lifestyle, flashy clothes, and chunky gold jewelery. He has denied all the charges.
In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, Sonko said his arrest was the result of a political scheme and that he was a law-abiding citizen. He urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid any actions that may threaten the peace.
“I urge all my supporters to allow law enforcement agencies to do their work and let the law take its course. The peace and stability of Nairobi is more important than anything else,” Sonko said.
Sonko had applied for anticipatory bail on Friday, but the court rejected it. His lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui has claimed that the governor was badly tortured and needs medication. Kinyanjui has also called for the arrest of a police officer captured in a video beating and mishandling the governor.
Police have warned his supporters planning to demonstrate that they will be dealt with accordingly.
