Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been acquitted of a money laundering charge in the Ksh14 million Nairobi County tender case, after a Nairobi court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him on that count.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Senior Principal Magistrate Isabella Nekesa Barasa found that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to sustain the money laundering charge, which was the third count in the case.
“Having reviewed that evidence and considered the submissions, I am acquitting on count three. Count three relates to money laundering contrary to Section 3(a)(1) of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act,” the magistrate ruled.
SONKO TO DEFEND FOUR REMAINING COUNTS
Despite the acquittal on the money laundering charge, the court found that Sonko and his co-accused have a case to answer on the remaining four counts.
“I am placing the accused persons on their defence in respect to count one, count two, count four and count five,” Magistrate Barasa directed.
The charges that will now proceed to the defence stage include conspiracy to commit an offence, conflict of interest contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, and two counts of acquisition of proceeds of crime.
CASE STEMS FROM KSH14 MILLION COUNTY TENDER
The case arises from the 2018 procurement of heavy equipment valued at Ksh14 million during Sonko’s tenure as Nairobi Governor.
Prosecutors allege that the tendering process was manipulated, resulting in the unlawful award of contracts and possible loss of public funds.
The prosecution called 10 witnesses before closing its case. Both the prosecution and the defence subsequently filed submissions on whether the accused persons had a case to answer.
MATTER RETURNS TO COURT IN JUNE
The case will be mentioned on June 4, 2026, in open court for further directions ahead of the defence hearing.
