Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko’s defense team has
moved to clear his name from allegations facing the Web Tribe/JamboPay
contract, arguing that his administration had no legal or administrative
obligation to adopt legacy systems from previous county regimes.
Taking the stand, former County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka told
the court that Web Tribe had originally been contracted by the previous
administration under Governor Evans Kidero to provide e-payment services.
She noted that while her office offered legal advisory and
representation in civil matters, no legal action was ever taken against the
company during her tenure.
The court also heard two audio recordings between Sonko and
the then ICT County Executive, in which the former governor is heard rejecting
any further dealings with JamboPay.
“I don’t want to hear any issues with JamboPay. We can’t
inherit problems from previous administrations,” Sonko said in one of the
clips, insisting on transitioning to a new digital
payment system.
He further said that they believed the old software was
outdated and prone to interference.
Supporting his defense, former Finance CEC Allan Igambi
testified that he handled payments to Web Tribe but revealed that he once faced
pressure from a senior official to “find something to incriminate the Governor”.
Igambi said he refused to comply.
Sonko’s lawyers maintain that his administration
deliberately declined to renew the JamboPay contract in favor of what he
described as a better and modernized revenue system.
The case, before the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court, involves
Sonko and his co-accused, Anthony Otieno Ombok and ROG Security Limited, who
face corruption-related charges. The hearing continues next year.
In July, Sonko sensationally claimed that powerful figures conspired
to “fix” him, linking his corruption charges to political persecution aimed at
paving the way for the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
That claim appeared to gain traction when former Nairobi
County Finance Executive Winfred Gathagu made startling revelations before
Chief Magistrate Charles Ondieki, alleging that senior State House officials
had approached her and other county officers to fabricate criminal charges and
support Sonko’s impeachment.
“My colleagues and I from Nairobi County were approached
several times by senior officials who asked us to assist in building cases
against my former boss, Mike Sonko, for court proceedings, impeachment, and
related efforts,” Gathagu testified while being led in Sonko’s defense by
lawyers Assa Nyakundi and Elizabeth Ochieng.
Her testimony added a
dramatic twist to a case that continues to expose the political intrigues
surrounding Sonko’s ouster from City Hall.
