There was drama on Monday when police stormed a press briefing by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and MCAs allied to him, citing violation of Covid-19 rules.
The officers, who arrived in at least six Land Cruisers and were armed with batons and guns, fired tear gas to disperse the meeting held at Riverside Estate in Lavington, Nairobi.
Tensions rose when the MCAs appeared to resist their order to vacate the premises as Governor Sonko pleaded with them not to disrupt the meeting.
His pleas fell on deaf ears, the officers firing the tear gas and forcing everybody to flee.
Governor Sonko was detained in the melee and bundled into one of vehicles that had been parked outside the venue. He drove off as soon as he was released shortly after.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja condemned Governor Sonko's detention and accused police of being used politically.
“Arresting Sonko for meeting MCAs in the week of his impending impeachment is nothing short of using the police for politics,” he tweeted.
“Just as it happened in the Senate, this must be condemned, whether you support the governor or not. Let us not claw back democracy using Covid-19 as an excuse.”
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is pictured at Riverside estate in Lavington on November 30, 2020, after police disrupted his press briefing.
Photo credit: Collins Omulo | Nation Media Group
According to multiple sources who spoke to the Nation, Sonko crossed the red line through constant actions aimed at frustrating operations of the newly-formed Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). This includes denying the NMS funds.
Earlier in the briefing, politicians led by nominated MCA Silvia Museiya said they were opposed to Sonko’s removal from office.
They accused proponents of the bid of faking signatures and claiming that 86 MCAs had signed the notice of the motion to impeach Sonko.
Ms Museiya alleged that the signatures were collected from a kamukunji the MCAs held before the tabling of the notice. She claimed only 17 of them were valid.
“The signatures are not members’. The very few they managed to collect were through coercion,” she claimed, emphasising that the bid will be unsuccessful.
“We are fully [in support of] Governor Sonko and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). We do not oppose NMS but want respect and the rule of law to apply. The budget was skewed ... it should be cured so that Nairobi residents receive services,” she said.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is pictured with some of the police officers who disrupted his meeting at Riverside estate in Lavington on November 30, 2020.
Photo credit: Collins Omulo | Nation Media Group
Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu said the main reason for the censure motion is the contentious budget. He said there are three versions and that the one presented in the assembly lacked input from Sonko and MCAs.
“We have been intimidated and arm-twisted but we will not, in any way, budge and give in to their demands. We will not support the impeachment,” he said.
He appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga to restore peace in the assembly by calling for dialogue between the rival factions.
Kayole Central MCA Frederick Okeyo alleged that the governor is being forced to append his signature on a budget passed illegally yet the Deed of Transfer clearly stated that all services will be budgeted for in transparently and lawfully.
“We were promised there would be no fights in the county but they are now taking us back to that. We do not want wars in the county government. Let us embrace dialogue and consultations,” said Mr Okeyo.
