Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko’s defense team has moved to clear his name from the controversial Web Tribe/JamboPay contract, arguing that his administration had no legal or administrative obligation to adopt legacy systems from previous county regimes.
Taking the stand, former County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka told the court that Web Tribe had originally been contracted by the previous administration under Governor Evans Kidero to provide e-payment services. She noted that while her office offered legal advisory and representation in civil matters, no legal action was ever taken against the company during her tenure.
The court also heard two audio recordings between Sonko and the then ICT County Executive, in which the former governor is heard rejecting any further dealings with JamboPay. “I don’t want to hear any issue with JamboPay. We can’t inherit problems from previous administrations,” Sonko said in one of the clips, insisting on transitioning to a more efficient and transparent digital payment system. He further lamented that the old software was outdated and prone to interference, which disrupted county revenue operations.
Supporting his defense, former Finance CEC Allan Igambi testified that he handled payments to Web Tribe but revealed that he once faced pressure from a former Solicitor General to “find something to incriminate the Governor.” Igambi said he refused to comply. Sonko’s lawyers maintain that his administration deliberately declined to renew the JamboPay contract in favor of a cleaner, modernized revenue system.
The case, before the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court, involves Sonko and his co-accused — Anthony Otieno Ombok and ROG Security Limited — who face corruption-related charges. The hearing continues next year.
In July, Sonko sensationally claimed that powerful figures at State House conspired to “fix” him, linking his corruption charges to political persecution aimed at paving the way for the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
That claim appeared to gain traction when former Nairobi County Finance Executive Winfred Gathagu made startling revelations before Chief Magistrate Charles Ondieki, alleging that senior State House officials had approached her and other county officers to fabricate criminal charges and support Sonko’s impeachment.
“My colleagues and I from Nairobi County were approached several times by senior State House officials who asked us to assist in building cases against my former boss, Mike Sonko, for court proceedings, impeachment, and related efforts,” Gathagu testified while being led in Sonko’s defense by lawyers Assa Nyakundi and Elizabeth Ochieng.
Her testimony has added a dramatic twist to a case that continues to expose the political intrigues surrounding Sonko’s ouster from City Hall.
