Hours after Wiper party governor aspirant Mike Sonko announced that he will attend a rally in Mombasa being hosted by ODM leader Raila Odinga, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji vowed to block him from contesting in the August polls.
Sonko was impeached in December 2020 by the Nairobi County Assembly on four accounts of Gross Violation of the Constitution, Abuse of Office, Misconduct and Crimes against National Law.
The controversial former Governor is now seeking a return to politics and wants to be the incoming Governor in Mombasa County. The Wiper Party has since endorsed his bid.
In an interview with Spice FM on Thursday, Haji said people who held elective posts and impeached cannot stand somewhere else.
“There must be respect for the rule of law. You cannot vie for a political seat in another county if you have been impeached!” he said.
He also encouraged voters to make wise decisions.
“Let us vote wisely, and put this country first by voting in people with integrity in office,” Haji said.
Haji said citizens have the power to determine the kind of the leaders who will represent them.
He was accompanied by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) CEO Twalib Mbarak, who reiterated DPP’s words saying that voters should take charge of their political future.
“Only when they elect leaders of integrity they can expect good laws and policies that guarantee national prosperity,” Twalib said.
The two said that even though Chapter 6 of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity spells out the people’s aspirations, the provisions are not sufficient to help Kenyans realize what they want.
“Politicians want to be treated differently. The constitution stipulates that state and public officers facing integrity issues must step down. Politicians insist that it doesn’t apply to them,” Haji said.
Sonko was on April 21, 2022 officially handed the Wiper party ticket to vie for Mombasa Governor’s seat.
He was handed the certificate by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who also disclosed that Sonko will be deputized by Kisauni Member of Parliament Ali Mbogo.
MP Mbogo had also expressed his interest in the contest but agreed to shelve his ambitions following consensus talks.
“As a result of consultations Governor Sonko becomes the Wiper candidate to be deputized by Ali Mbogo,” stated Kalonzo.
Sonko will now face ODM’s Abdulswamad Nassir, UDA’s Hassan Omar among others.
Sonko decamped from Jubilee to Wiper on March 22, 2022, as part of measures to revive his political career following his impeachment.
He is facing numerous criminal charges including several corruption cases, assault, and terrorist-linked offences, which he has since denied.
In March, the United States government banned Sonko and his immediate family members from travelling to the US over corruption allegations related to abuse of office and bribery.
Kalonzo however came into his defense, saying Sonko cannot be denied a ticket since he has not been charged with a crime.
