Court Orders Unfreezing Of Mike Sonko’s Accounts, Citing Lack Of Money Laundering Evidence

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has been dealt a blow after a court ordered the unfreezing of nine bank accounts belonging to former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, which collectively hold over Ksh 537 million.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court determined that the ARA had failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate its claims that the funds were proceeds of crime or money laundering.

Speaking after the verdict, Sonko’s lawyer, Harrison Kinyanjui, confirmed the ruling, stating the agency could not prove that his client had pilfered county funds during his tenure.

“The Honourable Justice Sifuna has rendered his verdict on the case launched by ARA against the former governor… in which the ARA had sought to freeze on allegations that he was involved in alleged money laundering and pilfering of the county of Nairobi funds,” Kinyanjui explained.

‘Suspicion is Not Proof’

Kinyanjui relayed that while both parties tendered evidence, the judge found that merely suspecting the misappropriation of funds was a “long way” from proving the assertion with hard evidence.

The court faulted the ARA for presenting insufficient evidence, specifically noting the agency’s failure to provide any of Sonko’s bank transactions from before he became governor. This crucial omission prevented the court from comparing his financial activity pre- and post-office to highlight any discrepancies that might suggest criminal acquisition.

The lawyer affirmed that Sonko successfully proved he had owned businesses and real estate ventures prior to taking office.

Victory for Property Rights Amidst Ongoing Legal Battles

Kinyanjui reiterated Sonko’s long-held assertion that the case against him was a “witch-hunt” orchestrated to damage his reputation and facilitate his 2020 impeachment.

“The Court has finally said that whatever money had been frozen for the past five years, belonging to Governor Sonko, is part of his property,” Kinyanjui stated, emphasizing that the ARA was “unable to prove and demonstrate that any money held by Governor Sonko… was acquired illegally.”

Despite this significant victory, the former governor remains entangled in other legal woes since his 2020 ouster. In December 2024, Justice Sifuna overturned an acquittal in a separate Ksh 357 million graft case, and earlier this year, a magistrate ruled that Sonko has a case to answer in 11 counts of Ksh 24 million graft charges related to conflict of interest and abuse of office.