The media – both mainstream and social – was stirred by the dramatic arrest of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. He was flown in from Voi to Nairobi, a feat that led to him having a torn t-shirt.
This followed orders from the director of public prosecutions that the flamboyant governor of Nairobi had a case to answer. He was denied bail, which means that he had to brave the cold-cells, made even colder by the unforgiving weather, for the weekend.
It was another high profile arrest, this time involving a sitting governor. Migori governor Okoth Obado had gone through the same hands of law enforcement, but his was a different case.
To a discerning eye, the arrest will not amount much as has been the previous cases. In the recent past, the Finance CS Henry Rotich went through the same treatment, and some were lauding the efforts of the DPP.
Many people hoped that the case would be an example to corrupt public officers, where a speedy trial and subsequent delivery of judgment would be affected. Fast forward, nothing much has materialized from the case.
There have been numerous such cases that have died a natural death. Ann Waiguru went through the same fate and ended up a governor, instead of being made to account for the alleged loss of billions of tax-payers money. Former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero was also arrested and nothing much has come out of the case.
For many of these high profile corruption cases, the suspects will be given bail and then the case becomes a long drawn one until it fizzles out of the public eye.
Sonko’s case will follow the same trajectory. Come Monday, the governor will be granted bail and he will be out to resume his usual duties as well as antics. Just watch.
For that matter, Kenyans should not be hoodwinked that much will come out of Sonko’s case. From what we’ve shown over time, a chicken thief will be tried and judged faster than a one who makes away with billions of money meant to buy drugs for the downtrodden in society.