Kenya: Former Nairobi Governor eyeing a political comeback

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_95758" align="alignnone" width="512"] Ex-Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko[/caption] Ex-Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is considering a political comeback comes August 9, 2022, when Kenya will be holding its general elections. Sonko is eyeing for Mombasa gubernatorial seat on Wiper party ticket. The party’s leadership revealed on Monday, April 11, 2022, that it has cleared the former county boss to vie for the seat currently held by Governor Hassan Joho whose term expires in August. “We have forwarded a list to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, and yes Sonko has presented himself as a candidate in the Mombasa Governor’s race,” said the outfit’s Vice Chair elections board Agatha Solitei. Sonko will face off lawmaker Ali Mbogo in the primaries for Wiper party’s ticket. If he wins the primaries, he will battle it out with former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, who will run on a UDA ticket as well as MP Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, and Mombasa billionaire Suleiman Shabal, who are seeking the ODM ticket. The controversial politician has been in the cold since 2020 following his impeachment. He was impeached on December 3, 2020, by 88 Nairobi MCAs of the County Assembly and Senators upheld his ouster two weeks later. He was removed from his position due to allegations of misconduct and gross misconduct, as well as a lack of competence to manage county affairs. Sonko and his immediate family members were also barred from entering the United States in March 2022 due to corruption allegations involving abuse of office and bribery.