On Wednesday, July 13, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to contest for the Mombasa governorship and it appeared the flamboyant politician was making a comeback.
This was after the High Court in Mombasa ordered the electoral agency to clear Sonko on grounds that the controversial politician had not exhausted all the avenues for appeal following his impeachment as Nairobi governor.
IEBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein has said the commission will not officially gazzet Sonko as Mombasa gubernatorial candidate until the Supreme Court issues a verdict on whether Sonko was legally and procedurally impeached.
There was hope and Sonko was on course to write history as the first Kenya politician to become governor in two different counties.
But on Friday, July 15, the Supreme Court dealt a final blow to his illustrious political career which saw the politica rise from first-time MP, Senator of Nairobi, and finally governor before being impeached for abuse of office among other ills.
“The impeachment proceedings before the County Assembly and the Senate were properly conducted in accordance with Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Governments Act and Standing Orders of the Assembly and the Senate,” a judgment by the Supreme Court bench of 6 judges said.
Mike Sonko had challenged his impeachment in High Court on grounds he was never given a fair hearing. He lost the case.
He moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court decision and still lost with the appellate court saying the politician was fairly impeached.
According to Article 75(3) of Chapter six, a person who is removed from office on contravention of Chapter 6 of the Constitution is disqualified from holding any other State or public office whether elective or appointive.”
This means that Sonko, who had expressed interest to succeed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho will not be cleared to vie for any elective seat or be appointed to any public office.
