- A senior police officer testified that JamboPay Director Danson Muchem tried to bribe ex-Governor Sonko Sh4–5 million daily.
- The alleged bribe was to regain control of Nairobi County’s revenue collection contract.
- Police recorded a 57-minute audio clip during a sting operation in 2019.
- Sonko is currently on trial for Sh20 million graft charges alongside businessman Patrick Ombok.
- The court will play the audio evidence on July 17, with 11 more defence witnesses expected.
A senior police officer has told the Anti-Corruption Court that JamboPay (Webtribe Ltd) Director Danson Muchemi allegedly offered ex-Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko daily bribes of Sh4 million to Sh5 million to secure a lucrative revenue collection deal.
Testifying on Wednesday before Milimani Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki, Chief Inspector Kiptoo Kisorio, now Hulugho Sub-County Police Commander, detailed a sting operation that unfolded in January 2019 in Mtwapa, Kilifi County.
Kisorio revealed that the operation began after Sonko alerted police that Muchemi intended to visit his Kanamai home to offer a bribe in exchange for reappointment to manage the Nairobi County revenue collection system.
“The former governor said Muchemi was visiting him and wanted him to facilitate his reappointment,” said Kisorio. “Sonko requested police help to arrest him if he offered a bribe.”
An entry was recorded in the OB at Mtwapa Police Station, and Sonko was given a Sony ICD-PX470 recorder to capture the meeting secretly.
Kisorio testified that after the 57-minute meeting, Sonko handed over the device.
“We listened to the audio. Muchemi said Sonko would receive Sh4 to Sh5 million every day and claimed former Governor Kidero had made Sh7 billion from a similar deal,” he stated.
The officer requested the court to allow the playback of the audio evidence in open court. However, Magistrate Ondieki postponed it to Thursday, July 17, at 9:30 am.
This testimony is part of Sonko’s defence in an ongoing Sh20 million corruption case filed by the DPP. He is facing seven graft-related charges alongside businessman Patrick Ombok.
The court had earlier ruled the prosecution had a prima facie case, leading to the defence phase. Ombok is set to testify on five of the charges.
At least 11 more defence witnesses are expected before the case concludes.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel for Breaking Court Updates
Click here to stay updated
