Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has secured a partial win in court after a Nairobi magistrate cleared him of money laundering charges in an ongoing graft case.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court found that the prosecution had failed to present enough evidence to sustain the money laundering count, leading to his acquittal on that charge.
“I have considered the submissions filed by both the prosecution and the accused… I’m acquitting on count three, which relates to money laundering,” the court ruled.
However, Sonko’s legal battle is far from over.
The court placed him on his defence on the remaining counts, including allegations tied to the irregular award of tenders during his time at City Hall. This means the former governor will now be required to respond to the charges as the case moves into the next phase.
Prosecutors claim the tendering process was manipulated, resulting in the unlawful awarding of contracts and possible loss of public funds.
The ruling hands Sonko a significant but limited reprieve. He has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting the case is politically driven.
His troubles date back to 2019 when he was arrested over a KSh 357 million graft case involving alleged irregular payments and money laundering. In a separate but related case, a court in January 2025 ruled that he had a case to answer in a matter involving 11 charges linked to a KSh 20 million revenue tender.
In his defence, Sonko has told the court that powerful individuals targeted him for resisting illegal land deals, claiming attempts were made to bribe county officials to facilitate the grabbing of public land, including school property.
With the money laundering charge now struck out, attention shifts to the remaining counts, where the former governor will seek to clear his name.
