By Samson Wire
Nairobi, Kenya: Drama unfolded yesterday morning at the private office of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko when anti-corruption agency officers attempted to search the premises.
Accompanying investigators from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC ), a contingent of over 30 police officers tried to force their way to the office. But their efforts were thwarted by Governor’s supporters who were at the premises.
The officers said they wanted to inspect and evaluate a piece of land said to be worth 500 million.
However, the officers were repulsed by the Governor’s supporters who were already inside the compound. The land is estimated at Sh500 million.
The investigators informed Sonko’s aides that they had come to conduct a search and assess the actual size of the one-acre plot formerly owned by Kenya Railway pensioners.
The property then served as his campaign center for the 2017 gubernatorial campaign and also as Tallying center forJubilee party, for the Nairobi electoral seats.
While as a tenant, in December 2017 and December 2018 under tender No. KRSBRS/013/PLM.2017 and tender No.KRSRBS/08/PLM.2018, the Pension Trustees advertised for an open tender to purchase parcels of the property.
Both bids were non-responsive.
And in February 2019, under Tender No. KRSRBS/02/PLM.2019, the Trustees placed another open tender which he sais he bid successfully.
Following the third tender advert, we entered into an agreement with the Trustees to purchase two portions of the land for Sh498.5 million on 30th April 2019. We have since paid Sh144.6 million as part-payment in accordance with the contract
Sonko’s Spokesman says, the sources of this money can be provided and bot a single cent can be traced to City Hall funds.
