Sonko reveals details of his Shimo la Tewa jail break
By THOMAS MATIKONairobi Governor Mike Sonko has made a rare confession of his escape from Shimo La Tewa prison in Mombasa during his criminal years before joining politics.
Sonko made the revelation during the burial of former Nairobi town clerk John Gakuo who was laid to rest on Friday in Rurii village Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County.
Gakuo died at Mbagathi Hospital after developing health complications while at the Nairobi Industrial Area Remand Prison where he was serving a three year jail term for corruption related charges. He was denied bail pending an appeal.
Governor Sonko blamed judiciary for Gakuo’s death, arguing that the decision to deny him bail was the main cause of his demise.
“Inefficient judicial officers make suspects settle for other illegal means to access freedom. I escaped from prison to bury my mother when a magistrate denied me bail,” Sonko narrated.
Sonko escaped from Shimo La Tewa prison in 1998 after being in jail for one year in order to attend the burial of his mother Saumu Mukami.
He was re-arrested and taken to Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.