Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko at a past event. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Two former CDF officials say Mike Sonko framed them for the loss of Sh6 million from Makadara Constituency in 2011.
The two former officials were taken to court in 2011 for the theft of the funds, but the suit was dropped in March last year before they were charged afresh a month later.
In an earlier court session, Mr Sonko said more than Sh5 million was withdrawn from the CDF account without his knowledge.
Two former CDF Board officials have accused Nairobi senator Mike Sonko of stealing Sh6 million from Makadara Constituency in 2011 and framing them for the crime.
Victor Shimoli and Michael Maina have sued the senator, the anti-corruption watchdog and Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko. They are seeking Sh409,000 as compensation.
“By use of trickery and his influence as the MP, Mr Sonko caused the signatories to the CDF account to sign a cheque for Sh6 million and superintended over the withdrawal and the subsequent payment of public funds to persons unknown to the CDF committee,” said Mr Shimoli in court papers.
Mr Shimoli was chairman of the CDF Board when the fraudulent withdrawal was made while Mr Maina had just been appointed secretary by Mr Sonko.
Mr Shimoli says he discovered the money had been withdrawn from the CDF account in late December 2010.
The two former officials were taken to court in 2011 for the theft of the funds, but the suit was dropped in March last year before they were charged afresh a month later.
Mr Shimoli holds that the senator filed a false complaint with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and accused them of trying to bribe him with Sh300,000 to authorise payment for non-existent projects as a decoy.
“On January 11, Mr Sonko instructed his CDF committee to withdraw Sh255,000 and hand it to a Mr Joseph Njue who was then instructed to give the money to Mr Maina, who in turn was instructed to ride with me in my car,” said Mr Shimoli.
They were later arrested by EACC officers in South B and charged with the theft of the Sh6 million.
Mr Shimoli enjoined the EACC and the DPP in the suit for leading to their prosecution. The Sh409,000 compensation is linked to legal costs they incurred defending themselves between 2011 and 2013.
The ex-CDF officials are also seeking special damages to be determined by the court.
In an earlier court session, Mr Sonko said more than Sh5 million was withdrawn from the CDF account without his knowledge.
He said those who withdrew the money wrote down his cellphone number in the bank documents with a sinister motive, prompting him to report the withdrawal to EACC, then the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC).
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