Sonko-allied reps off to Mombasa in bid to scuttle ouster motion 

The impeachment motion against Governor Mike Sonko will be tabled in the city County Assembly today (Thursday) even as he shepherded dozens of ward representatives to Mombasa in a bid to scuttle it.

At least 38 representatives allied to the governor left Nairobi for Mombasa on Monday evening soon after the chaotic press briefing in Riverside.

Mr Sonko is reportedly monitoring their movements and communication. County Assembly members can vote virtually during today’s proceedings.

Some of the 15 pro-Sonko representatives left in Nairobi are said to have travelled to their rural homes.

The governor is doing all he can to dissuade at least 41 ward representatives to skip the session, effectively denying the House the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion.

According to sources who spoke to the Nation, the ward representatives have been shuttling between three hideouts in the coastal city. 

These are the governor’s residence in Ukunda, Salama Bling Beach Resort and English Point Marina.

“The representatives went to Ukunda after leaving Nairobi on Monday evening,” the source said. 

One group went to English Point Marina while another was seen heading to Salama Bling Beach Resort on Tuesday. 

They will all then go back to Ukunda, which is in Kwale, ahead of the D-Day today. 

“The reason for hopping from one place to another is to avoid being tracked,” the source, who requested anonymity, said. 

Censure motion

Another source confirmed that the ward representatives are in Mombasa where the governor is keeping a close eye on them.

“We do not care if they will obey the court order but we are determined to deny them the quorum.

They can still vote,” one of the representatives told the Nation. 

Governor Sonko was at his Kimerimeta home, a few kilometres from Kwale town, on Wednesday. 

He was to host some of the representatives at the house, one of the sources said. 

“We expect nine more ward representatives to join us by tomorrow,” the representative added. 

For the censure motion to succeed, a total of 82 ward representatives out of the 122 at the assembly must vote in its favour. 

On Thursday last week, some 86 representatives – 47 from the Orange Democratic Movement and 39 from Jubilee – signed the notice of impeachment motion. 

However, the number reduced after Ms Ann Thumbi, Ms Silvia Museiya and Ms Millicent Jagero were suspended by Jubilee for three months on Tuesday, meaning they will not vote. The new threshold is 80 representatives. 

The governor’s camp is confident it has at least 67 representatives to defeat the motion by Minority Leader Michael Ogada. Imara Daima Ward Rep Kennedy Obuya said Governor Sonko is not going anywhere as he has the support of half of the assembly.