Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen found himself on the spotlight while representing Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko in court on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.
The outspoken senator and the governor’s legal counsel were faulted for taking Sonko to court well aware that he was sick.
Speaking at Milimani Law Courts, Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti failed to understand why the county boss was brought to court despite a provision in the constitution which allowed Sonko not to appear in person if ill.
Murkomen was giving the governor’s health status when Ogoti interrupted him.
“Why did you force an accused out of the hospital? An accused who is sick?” questioned the magistrate before the senator attempted to explain and was cut short.Â
“No, I am asking because he is on his feet,” continued Ogoti.
Murkomen claimed the decision was informed by media reports which had painted the governor in a bad light, owing to an allegation that Sonko left Shimo la Tewa Prison on the pretence that he was sick.
“Your honour we did not want to take chances,” Murkomen attempted to clarify.
“Which chances? Murkomen, do you know why I am smiling? I know you don’t practice this. There is an authority from Machakos that each individual right of an accused is considered singularly, even if they are charged together.
“You didn’t have to disturb a sick person from the hospital. I still would have gone ahead and given directions,” Ogoti continued.
Murkomen is representing the governor alongside 11 other lawyers among them Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, after he was accused of embezzling Ksh357 million from public coffers.
Sonko, who reported chest pains after spending a number of days behind bars, was taken to court for the bail hearing in an ambulance.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was released on a Ksh15 million cash bail or Ksh30 million bond and a surety of a similar amount.
Below is a video courtesy of Citizen TV:
