Former Nairobi county governor Mike Sonko wants the court to return Kshs15 million he paid to bail him out in a corruption case.
Sonko says that he currently needs the money to be able to sustain him since he undergoing some financial difficulties.
In an application filed at the high court, he wants to substitute the Kshs15 million with other assets so that he can recover from the financial crisis.
“I am asking the court to be allowed to deposit security in place of the cash bail to enable me access the money for purposes of attending to my health, paying school fees for my children, pay my lawyers and cater for my daily needs and those of my family,” said Sonko.
He said that he has no other means of supporting his family as all his bank accounts were frozen.
The former county chief wants to surrender his three high end vehicles that are worth 30.4 million in exchange of the cash bail.
According to the submission, his lawyer Philip Kaingu said that the law allows an accused person to deposit cash bail or security.
“The corruption cases against him have proceeded well with more than 10 witnesses which means there is no risk of him absconding court. It is in the interest that he be allowed to substitute the cash bail to enable him fend for his family,” said Kaingu.
Sonko said that he was able to raise only Kshs5 million and the rest of the amount was raised by well-wishers and family.
In December 2019, Sonko was accused of conspiring rogue businessmen and some senior county officials to embezzle millions of shillings from the Nairobi county government.
It is alleged that the ex-governor was rewarded Kshs39 million for giving multi-million tenders to companies that was involved in business with the county government.
He was charged with corruption, conflict of interest, money laundering and acquisition of proceeds of crime, offences claimed to have committed between May 24, 2018, and March 28, 2019.
Sonko however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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