It was a blow to former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko as the Court of Appeal paved way for Nairobi deputy Governor Anne Kananu to be sworn in as the third Nairobi Governor.
In the judgement delivered on Friday, October 22 the court of appeal threw out a petition filed by Mike Sonko seeking to bar Kananu from taking over City Hall.
The court declared that Sonko’s application did not meet the threshold set for such applications under the rules of the Court of Appeal.
“… that the issue of the swearing-in of the 11th respondent is not one of the grounds of appeal raised in the Draft Memorandum of Appeal and this Court, therefore, lacks the jurisdiction to grant the orders sought,” the Court ruled.
The Court of Appeal further stated that former Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has been out of office for more than ten months hence he is no longer the county boss.
“Since the applicant has not occupied the office of Governor since 17, December 2020, there would be no prejudice should the orders sought herein not be granted,” it added.
Sonko had asked the court to issue orders barring Kananu from taking the oath of office pending the hearing and determination of the intended appeal.
In June 2021, the High Court dismissed petitions that were filed challenging the nomination, vetting, and swearing-in of Anne Kananu as Nairobi Deputy Governor.
A three-judge bench ruled that the swearing-in of Kananu was lawful notwithstanding an attempt by Sonko to reverse her nomination.
Two weeks ago, Sonko recorded himself saying he is living the best version of his life because he is no longer stressed by county duties that were weighing him down.