Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko at a past event. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has distanced himself from allegations that he paid Mombasa residents to attend Jubilee's rally at the Tononoka grounds on Sunday.
In a video doing rounds on social media, Sonko and other Jubilee officials are seen distributing Jubilee flags and T-shirts with a few people appearing to be walking away with Sh50 bob notes.Although it remains unclear which event Sonko was asking the residents to attend, the Senator said he was mobilising residents to attend the Tononoka rally.When conducted by The Star, Sonko rubbished the claims, arguing that there is nothing wrong with mobilising residents to attend the Presidents function."Kwani kuna shida gani ku coordinate? Unaona mahali tunapea watu pesa? Kwani kuna shida gani kukuwa kwa scene? Hata murder scene watu hukuwa,” (Is there a problem coordinating? Have you seen us giving out cash in any part of the video? What is the problem with being at a scene? People even go to murder scenes).He further said that there is no crime in giving out money to the residents. "Hata kama kuna mtu anapatiana pesa ni sawa. Kwani what is wrong kupeana fare. Utawachaje mama atembee? Lakini sijaona mtu akipeana pesa hapo," he said. (It is okay for people to give out money. What is wrong with giving the people fare? We cannot let an old woman walk. But I have not seen anyone giving out cash) he added.According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) aspirants who give out money are not allowed to contest for any seat.