NAIROBI, Kenya
Former Nairobi Governor in Kenya, Mike Sonko (in red jacket) was dramatically whisked away to the high security Kamiti Prison as the government prepared terror charges against the embattled city politician.
He was, however, transferred back to Gigiri
police station cells on Wednesday evening pending the hearing of an application
in which the police seek to have him detained for 30 days as they carry
out investigations over his alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
Chief Inspector Newton Thimangu of the
Anti-Terrorism Police Unit said in an affidavit that Sonko is "recruiting
a militia group to disrupt the peace and stability of the nation leading to
anarchy which can escalate to civil disobedience of law and order to the
detriment of peace-loving Kenyans".
Earlier, one of his lawyers, Assa Nyakundi,
said he was on Wednesday evening heading to Kamiti where they were informed
Sonko was scheduled to face terrorism-related charges.
“There is a huge traffic jam but I am told he
is already at Kamiti waiting a possible arraignment. We are informed police
have sworn an affidavit seeking to hold him for 30 days over terrorism-related
charges,” said Nyakundi.
He said police sped off from Milimani law
courts and they lost their trail on the way. Sonko was being guarded by
officers from Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, which deals with terrorism suspects.
Sonko had earlier appeared at the Milimani law courts for his corruption
related charges.
Sonko will appear before the Kahawa West Law court - a new court for the hearing of terror cases - on Thursday for the hearing of the application.
Sonko had expected a smooth and eventless
return to Gigiri police station as he awaited appearance at the Kiambu court
for a decision about his bail application in relation to 12 assault and robbery
charges.
But his day was turned upside down when he
learnt that new charges await him.
The Judiciary last year opened the Kahawa West
law court inside Kamiti Prison. The new court where Sonko was to take a plea as
per the police is the first and largest court in Kenya dedicated to
counter-terrorism and related high-risk cases.
Thimangu says the former governor has been
wearing military attire that is associated with terrorism groups who pose
a national security threat to the sovereignty of the country and hence the need
to have the suspect detained for comprehensive investigations.
“The suspect herein has started arming his
private security agents with full military attire namely military boots,
military jungle uniforms and firearms.
"The suspect who was in company of unknown
persons had worn militia attire and together with the suspect they were both
spotted in public in full glare of the media and in front of huge mass of
people in a public rally,” says part of affidavit.
He added he had intelligence information Sonko
is connected to financing of terrorism activities and is in the advanced stage
of procuring arms and ammunition using a wide syndicate which is complex and
sophisticated.
“It will be in the best interest that this
court finds it prudent to grant custodial detention period of 30 days to enable
investigations relating to this intelligence information to be thoroughly
undertaken with a view of preventing, intercepting and or interrupting the
criminal understandings by the suspect and his associates to forestall imminent
danger,” says part of the affidavit.
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