NAIROBI – Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has revived his legal battle over the Supreme Court’s decision that upheld his impeachment, indicating that he is preparing to seek a review of the ruling based on what he describes as new and compelling evidence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Sonko questioned why the Supreme Court is now seeking an advisory opinion from Attorney General Dorcas Oduor on whether impeached public officials can contest elections while their appeals are still pending, arguing that the court had already addressed the issue in his own case.
According to Sonko, the move raises questions about consistency in the application of the law.
“Why is the Supreme Court seeking advice from the Attorney General on an issue it already determined in my case?” Sonko posed.
The former governor also revisited events leading up to the Supreme Court’s July 2022 judgment that upheld his removal from office. He claimed that then Chief Justice Martha Koome had publicly stated, while his appeal was still pending, that once a governor is impeached, they remain impeached.
Sonko said he formally requested Justice Koome to recuse herself from hearing the matter, arguing that the remarks created a perception of bias, but his application was rejected.
He further questioned the timeline of the proceedings, saying he was directed to file submissions within hours while he was attending another court matter in Mombasa. According to him, the Supreme Court heard the appeal on July 14, 2022, and dismissed it the following day despite his lawyers requesting more time.
The former governor maintained that his impeachment was politically motivated, claiming that some individuals who supported his removal later admitted they had acted under pressure.
He also cited a decision by the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), saying the regional court identified procedural shortcomings in the handling of his case and found that aspects of the process fell short of the principles of fair hearing and good governance.
Sonko said the issues he is raising go beyond his personal case and touch on judicial independence, transparency and public confidence in Kenya’s justice system.
