New developments have surfaced in the ongoing Ksh20 million bribery case involving former Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko after a retired magistrate testified in court.
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, retired Senior Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba appeared before Milimani Anti-Corruption Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki during the defence hearing. Nyakweba revealed that he previously presided over a related matter involving a businessman accused of bribing the former governor.
The retired magistrate stated that in 2018, while stationed at the Mombasa Law Courts, he handled the plea-taking of businessman Praful Kumar Premchand Savla, the proprietor of Grand Manor Hotel in Nairobi. According to Nyakweba, Kumar was accused of offering a financial advantage to Sonko to secure approval for the construction of a controversial property.
The charge sheet from the earlier case indicated that on August 20, 2018, at Kanamai in Kikambala, Kilifi County, Kumar allegedly offered Sonko Ksh5 million. Two additional counts outlined attempts to give another Ksh2 million on the same day at the same location. These charges were brought under Section 5(1), as read with Section 18(1) and (2) of the Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016.
Nyakweba explained that he granted bond to the accused during the plea-taking, which he believes was paid. However, his involvement ended when he was transferred to the Embu Law Courts, where he later retired in 2023. “I am only aware of the plea-taking process and have not seen the full court file,” he said.
During cross-examination, State Counsel Wesley Nyamache asked whether Kumar was linked to the current case before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court. Nyakweba responded that he could not confirm, noting he had not reviewed the complete file and only saw the charge sheet at the time of plea-taking.
The testimony adds a new layer to the ongoing proceedings against Sonko, who faces allegations of soliciting and receiving bribes worth Ksh20 million. The defence hearing is set to continue on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 9:30 am, as the court seeks to establish the full extent of the alleged bribery scheme and the roles played by the individuals involved.
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