Moments after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) opted to withdraw assault charges against embattled Governor Mike Sonko, Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi has announced her disqualification from the graft case against him.
Sonko, who is accused of misappropriating Sh.357 million from the county government of Nairobi, had applied for the Judge to disqualify herself from the case.
The county boss expressed lack of confidence in Mumbi after she barred Governors Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu) and Moses Lenolkulaal (Samburu).
The Former Senator also wanted Judges John Onyiego and Grace Ngenye to distance themselves from the case. In his application, Sonko expressed his worry that Mumbi was likely to tilt the case against him to be in line with her past ruling.
While delivering the ruling on Lenolkulaal, Mumbi said that it would be unlawful to allow a graft suspect resume office and take charge of public funds he or she is accused of embezzling.
She ruled that: “…would it serve the public interest for a governor to go back to the office and preside over the finances of the county that he has been charged with embezzling.”
The decision of the court to bar Sonko from office has led to a perceived leadership crisis in the county. The attempt of the governor to nominate Anne Mwenda Kananu as his Deputy hit an iceberg after the DPP threated to file for the cancellation of his bail terms.