Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is expected to make a comeback in city politics following his dramatic impeachment in 2020.
Sonko, last week joined Wiper with sources saying he is preparing to make a comeback in city politics.
According to the former governor’s aide Francis Wambua, Sonko will be seeking to reclaim the gubernatorial seat.
“Sonko is returning and will be going for the top seat. He is coming home to where he was voted by more than 800,000 residents in the last elections, which was the second highest after the presidential vote tally,” he said.
Early this month, Sonko resigned from the Jubilee on claims that he was maliciously removed from office under the watch of the President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“I would like to thank the leadership for the support they have provided me while I served as Nairobi Governor before I was illegally and unconstitutionally removed from office,” he said.
Last Friday Sonko joined Wiper as a life member and was received by the leader Kalonzo Musyoka at the party headquarters.
The event was attended by Wiper chairperson Chirau Ali Mwakwere, secretary general Shakila Mohammed, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and Embakasi South MP Julius Mawathe.
Wambua said an official communication will be made soon on Sonko’s next step.
Sonko’s possible return to the city could change Azimio la Umoja dynamics in Nairobi where there are currently four aspirants under the movement.
Azimio is supported by at least 22 parties inclusive of Wiper, Jubilee and ODM.
ODM has only one candidate in the gubernatorial race in Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi who already launched his bid last year.
Jubilee has incumbent Governor Anne Kananu, business woman Agnes Kagure and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss Richard Ngatia.
Former Nairobi county governor’s spokesman Ben Mulwa is also eyeing the seat on a Wiper ticket.
Sonko is hopeful that he will reclaim his seat maintaining that he was illegally impeached.
“Article 99(3) of the constitution. A person is not disqualified under clause (2) unless all possibility of appeal or review of the relevant sentence or decision has been exhausted,” he said .
On December 3, 2020, Sonko was impeached by 88 MCAs which later proceeded to the Senate and he remove was from office.
The High Court and the Court of Appeal later upheld the resolution by the county assembly.
Sonko rose to politics in 2010 when he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Makadara.
In 2013 , Sonko became the first Senator of Nairobi after garnering 808,705 votes, beating his closest competitor, Former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru.
He would later emerged the Nairobi governor in August 2017.
His troubles with Uhuru started in February 2020, after he handed over county’s core functions to the national government.
On February 25, 2020, Sonko and former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, signed an agreement to transfer the functions government.
Through Executive Order No. 3 of 2020, the functions included county health services, transport, public works, utilities and ancillary services, and county planning and development.
Signing of the Deed of Transfer left City Hall in control of less influential departments such as ICT and E-government, education and sports, agriculture and livestock, trade and co-operatives and devolution, environment and finance sectors.
With the recent developments its a matter of wait and see for Sonko’s next step in relation to Nairobi politics.
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