Embattled former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has been acquitted of corruption and money laundering charges related to tenders awarded during his tenure.
Chief magistrate Douglas Ogoti freed Sonko and other accused including Anthony Otieno Ombok alias Jamal and ROG Security Ltd stating that the charge sheet was defective.
The judge added that there were no sufficient from the 19 witnesses who testified, to place Sonko in his defence.
“The accused persons, therefore, have no case to answer,” he said.
Sonko was accused of misappropriation by awarding fictitious contracts. The money was allegedly wired back to his personal accounts on different dates.
They were being tried for conspiracy to commit an economic crime, conflict of interest, abuse of office, acquisition of public funds and money laundering.
Sonko was accused of corruptly receiving over Sh25 million through proxies.
Between July 1, 2018, and January 31, 2019 they allegedly committed the offences. One of the tenders was for the supply and implementation of an electronic revenue collection and payment system.
Some of the witnesses were initially charged together with Sonko but their cases were dropped and turned into State witnesses.
Sonko had challenged their evidence, saying the witnesses were actively involved in the tenders and the court should treat the evidence as that of an accomplice.
In his reaction, DPP Noordin Haji vowed to appeal the ruling by Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti, clearing Mike Sonko.