Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, who is currently under fire, has said that he will apply to the East Africa Court of Justice to have the Supreme Court’s decision upholding his impeachment reviewed.
His announcement on Saturday came as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced it would publicly state its position on his bid for governor next week.
Sonko stated, “We have petitioned for a review before the same Supreme Court as well as the East Africa Court of Justice.
According to him, the EACJ is authorized to hear his appeal and is recognized under the Kenyan Constitution.
It’s the beginning of Sonko, not the end of Sonko, he said, “so mtu akisema Sonko kwisha, this is the end of Sonko.”
The former governor contended that Martha Koome, the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court, should not have been a member of the seven-judge panel that decided his fate.
He said that the CJ should have recused herself due to a conflict of interest because she had publicly stated her position on the matter in a radio appearance.
Sonko added that the decision was unfair because his attorneys were not given enough time to submit evidence because his appeal was considered in a single day.
The Senate’s impeachment of Sonko on December 17, 2020, was upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday, effectively putting an end to his comeback to active politics.
After attempting to have his dismissal overturned by the High Court and Court of Appeal without success, the former city boss filed a petition with the Supreme Court.
Sonko failed to establish that the removal procedure was faulty, according to the Supreme Court, which ruled that Sonko was duly removed from office.
He effectively lacks the qualifications necessary to occupy any public office, whether through appointment or election.
Sonko, who is running for Mombasa governor on the Wiper Party ticket in the general election on August 9, disagrees.
“The legislation applies to Martha Koome as well. I’m consulting, I could also have to protest about her to the JSC, and if that happens, she has to step down from the JSC, “In a statement to the media, Soko added.
Sonko asked after pausing, “Where are we headed as a country if a person like me can be denied justice?”
Even so, the country’s general election is only 23 days away, so the flashy politician is in a race against time.
If the IEBC upholds his permission to run, the IEBC might come to his aid as soon as next week.
Even when the Body for University Education refused to recognize the Nairobi Senator’s Team University degree, the commission granted him a reprieve and refused to revoke his clearance certificate.
According to the IEBC, it may only revoke Sakaja’s approval to run for governor of Nairobi if a court order supports it.
Regarding Sonko’s case, chairperson Wafula Chebukati stated that he has not yet had a chance to analyze the Supreme Court’s decision but that he will by Monday or Tuesday of the following week.
As a commission, we will consider the problems and maybe return before the nation on Monday or Tuesday, he said.
When affirming Sonko’s impeachment, the Supreme Court did not specify whether this rendered him ineligible to run for office.
However, any person removed from office for breaking the law is prohibited from ever holding another public office by Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.