Sonko in near fist-fight with Kidero over land claims

A Senate Public Accounts Committee hearing was Wednesday brought to a sudden halt after a bitter exchange ensued between Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and governor Evans Kidero on claims that the county chief was illegally acquiring private property in the city.

The governor had appeared before the committee to respond to audit queries for the financial year ending June 2014 raised by Auditor-General Edward Ouko.

“A schedule for deletion and amalgamation of properties revealed adjustments of rates which could not be verified amounting to Sh135.5 million. No approval of the same was provided,” said Mr Ouko in the audit report.

Things got out of hand when committee chairman Anyang’ Nyong’o allowed Mr Sonko an opportunity to table documents he claimed implicated Mr Kidero in illegal auctioning of private properties in the city.

Mr Sonko said the governor proceeded to grab the private properties and transfer them to himself and his wife after the auctions had been carried out.

Mr Nyong’o, who had a hard time moderating the meeting, ruled Mr Sonko out order and demanded he withdraws the unpalatable language he had used to address the governor.

“I will not withdraw since I don’t think I have defied any Standing Orders of the committee. I have proof that Mr Kidero and his proxies are illegally acquiring properties through fake rate claims and killing innocent people in the process,” said Mr Sonko.

Mr Kidero remained unmoved during Mr Sonko’s presentation, only managing a request to the committee chairman that the meeting be adjourned.

“I have been called a murderer and this is on record. I would like to respond. I would like to ask for an adjournment so that we come back when things are in order,” he said.

But Mr Sonko went ahead and claimed he had video clips to support his claims and that he was ready to file an affidavit.

The media was thrown out of the committee room, as loud exchanges could be heard behind the closed doors.