Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has told a court that his unwavering stance against corruption made him a target of powerful forces, as he defended himself against allegations of extorting Sh20 million.
Appearing in a magistrate’s court on Thursday, Sonko said his fight against graft dates back to his days in Parliament, long before he assumed the role of Nairobi governor. He and businessman Erastus Ombok face multiple charges, including abuse of office, conflict of interest, money laundering, and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
“I have fought corruption fearlessly and without compromise,” Sonko said. “My war against corruption did not begin yesterday. It started when I was a Member of Parliament and continued during my service in the Senate.”
The charges against Sonko stem from claims that he allegedly extorted Sh20 million in dealings linked to the county government. He has strongly rejected the accusations, arguing that they are an attempt to undermine his anti-corruption record.
Sonko described corruption as deeply rooted in the former City Council of Nairobi prior to the 2010 Constitution and as persisting under the county government structure. He said illegal land disposals, cartels, and collusion among senior officials were rampant, and that as a legislator with oversight responsibilities, he could not ignore the wrongdoing.
“Regrettably, powerful individuals and networks whose interests were threatened by my actions decided to fight back,” Sonko told the court.
To reinforce his defence, Sonko presented video clips and other publicly available evidence demonstrating his consistent efforts to expose corruption. One clip showed him raising a land-grabbing case involving a public primary school in Westlands while speaking in Parliament. He accused senior officials and private developers of attempting to seize the school land.
Sonko said he was offered Sh8 million to halt his opposition but turned it down and reported the bribery attempt to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“By the time I raised the issue in Parliament, an obtained court order was already in favour of the grabbers,” he said, adding that he later sought to join the High Court case to challenge the order. The court eventually set aside the order following his legal action.
He cited other instances where he confronted corruption and misuse of office, insisting that his record demonstrates a long history of opposing graft rather than engaging in it. The hearing is ongoing as the court examines his defence and the supporting evidence.
