Court acquits Sonko
Nairobi senator Gideon Kioko Mbuvi alias Sonko has been acquitted of an assault case against a senior police officer.
Acting senior principal magistrate Lucas Onyina acquitted the flamboyant politician after Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) police station commander Allan Shimoli withdrew the complainant.
Mr Shimoli told the court that he had voluntarily decided to withdraw the case and had not been pressured by anyone.
“I wish to withdraw the case,” said Mr Shimoli before the magistrate acquitted the Senator under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Senator, dressed in a white coat, a bluish trouser, a striped tie and his trade mark gold rings did not object to the withdrawal of the case.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for this day. I also thank chief inspector Shimoli and the court for withdrawing the case,” said Mr Sonko.
Out of court
Two weeks ago, despite the Senator and the officer striking an out of court comprise, the prosecution said it had to consult on whether the state was ready to withdraw the case.
“It is not a usual complaint. It is a charge of assaulting a police officer where the state is the complainant, “prosecution counsel Mr Kamula said.
The Senator is alleged to have assaulted the officer on September 19, 2011 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The JKIA police station commander is the only witness who has given his evidence against the Mr Sonko.
Mr Shimoli did not complete his evidence. He stood down during cross examination after Mr Sonko said he wanted to produce video clips of what had transpired on the day of the alleged assault.
The trial against Mr Sonko was not short of drama, at one time he fired his lawyer and decided to represent himself.