Prominent journalist Kenneth “Ken” Mijungu on Monday, July 21, 2025, appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi and produced two video clips in the ongoing graft case against former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko. The court had ordered him on May 14, 2025, to present the footage, which was aired years ago by a local broadcaster.
Mijungu told Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki that when the stories ran he was the editor in charge of legal affairs and had downloaded the clips onto his personal laptop. The footage was later uploaded to the company’s YouTube channel, where, he said, the files have remained intact for roughly six years.
The clips capture the 2018 arrest of businessman Praful Kumar Premchand Savla at Sonko’s Kanamai residence in Kilifi County. Bundles of Ksh1,000 notes are seen on a table in the room where the arrest occurred. Investigators allege Kumar had visited Sonko bearing a total of Ksh7 million as an inducement tied to approvals for construction of the Grand Manor Hotel in Nairobi’s Gigiri area.
A charge sheet previously placed before the court states that on August 20, 2018, at Kanamai in Kikambala, Kilifi County, Kumar identified as proprietor of the Grand Manor Hotel offered Sonko Ksh5 million and, in a separate count, an additional Ksh2 million, contrary to Section 5(1) as read with Section 18(1) and (2) of Kenya’s Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016.
Under cross-examination by State Counsel Wesley Nyamache for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mijungu said he was not personally aware of the underlying corruption investigation; his involvement was limited to editorial oversight and retention of the broadcast material.
Retired Senior Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba, testifying on July 17, 2025, recalled handling the plea-taking phase before his transfer to the Embu Law Courts, where he later retired. He confirmed granting bond to the accused but did not preside over subsequent proceedings and has not reviewed the full file.
Assistant Superintendent Beneutychus Wanjohi of the DCI forensic department testified that he transcribed a 57‑minute‑06‑second audio recording capturing a conversation between Sonko and JamboPay director Danson Muchemi—on June 4, 2025, and issued a corresponding certificate, saying the transcription was verbatim.
The matter is expected to test procedures for admitting archived broadcast footage and digital transcripts in anti‑corruption cases, with both sides signaling further evidentiary motions before trial continues.
The hearing will resume on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 9:30 a.m
