Court hears audio of alleged bribery by JamboPay CEO in Sonko's Sh20 million graft case
"If you allow me to work with you, utakua unapata between Sh3 million and Sh5 million daily, depending on how we run this," Muchemi is heard telling Sonko in the recording.
An Anti-Corruption Court today listened to a 57-minute audio recording allegedly capturing a detailed bribery conversation between former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and JamboPay CEO Danson Muchemi.
The audio, played publicly in court before Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki, was submitted by the defence in the Sh20 million graft trial facing Sonko and businessman Anthony Ombok Jamal.
More To Read
"If you allow me to work with you, utakua unapata between Sh3 million and Sh5 million daily, depending on how we run this," Muchemi is heard telling Sonko in the recording.
In the same tape, Muchemi details past revenue dealings during former Governor Evans Kidero's tenure, claiming: "Kwa five years Kidero alitengeneza Sh7 billion kwa hii revenue collection digital system pekee yake."
Chief Inspector Kiptoo Kisorio, now the Sub-County Police Commander in Hulugho, Garissa, testified that the recording was part of a sting operation initiated by Sonko himself.
"The governor said Muchemi was visiting him at his Kanamai residence. He wanted help arresting him if he attempted to bribe him," Kisorio told the court.
Kisorio said he and his team from Mtwapa Police Station set up a covert operation on January 10, 2019. "We stayed in another room while the meeting occurred. After the meeting ended, the governor returned the device to us. I prepared an inventory immediately and later submitted the recording to DCI Headquarters."
The Sony ICD-PX470 recording device, with serial number 1161788, was provided to Sonko after the operation was documented under OB number 35/10/01/2019.
A certificate authenticating the recording was also prepared on the same day to meet evidentiary requirements.
On cross-examination by defense lawyer Assa Nyakundi, Kisorio confirmed the identities of three voices in the audio: Sonko, Muchemi, and then-Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Abdi Guyo, now the Governor of Isiolo.
"There was even a discussion on how the same receipt could be reused to collect more money fraudulently," Kisorio testified, reinforcing claims of a systemic fraud network within the county government.
At the same time, a retired judicial officer told the court how a hotel owner allegedly bribed Sonko with Sh7 million to secure construction approvals for a contentious property in the city.
Testifying before the court, retired Senior Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba recounted events dating back to 2018 when he served at the Mombasa Law Courts.
"In the year 2018, I was serving as a Principal Magistrate at Mombasa Law Courts. I took the plea of one Praful Kumar in anti-corruption case number 10 of 2018," Nyakweba told the court.
Kumar, the proprietor of the Grand Manor Hotel in Nairobi's Gigiri area, is accused of offering bribes to Sonko in exchange for smooth facilitation of the hotel's construction, despite opposition and ongoing legal challenges.
The retired magistrate described the charges brought under the Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016, saying, "Count One was offering a bribe contrary to Section 5(1), Count Two was giving a bribe, and Count Three was also giving a bribe."
According to the charge sheet produced in court, Kumar is alleged to have offered Sonko Sh5 million on August 20, 2018, at Kanamai in Kikambala, Kilifi County, followed by another Sh2 million to ensure the continuation of construction on land parcel LR.91/239 in Nairobi.
Nyakweba added, "I granted the accused bond, which I believe he paid, but before the matter could be heard, I was transferred from Mombasa. I am only aware of the plea-taking process and have not seen the full court file."
The court adjourned the case to Monday, July 21.
Sonko, who has already been found to have a case to answer, has denied all allegations against him.
Top Stories Today
