The High Court is processing former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s petition seeking to challenge judicial decisions that upheld his impeachment.
In directions issued on October 17, Justice Gregory Mutai directed the parties to file their responses and submissions in a petition challenging the judgement that upheld Sonko’s removal from office.
The judge noted that the petition and an accompanying application raised issues that ought to be determined at the earliest opportunity.
Sonko is asking the court to declare the judgement upholding his impeachment unconstitutional and invalid. In his petition, he alleges that irregularities in the proceedings affected his right to a fair hearing.
The former governor is also seeking to have subsequent decisions by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court arising from the disputed judgement declared invalid.
He wants the Chief Justice to constitute an expanded bench to rehear the consolidated petitions on their merits. He is further seeking orders restraining the respondents and anyone acting under their authority from implementing or relying on the judgments he is challenging.
The petition also seeks declarations that his constitutional rights were violated, exemplary and punitive damages, payment of legal costs, and any other relief the court considers appropriate.
Under the directions issued by Justice Mutai, Sonko is required to serve the petition and application on the respondents and interested parties in both soft and hard copies within seven days of the October 17 order.
The respondents and interested parties will then have 14 days from the date of service to enter an appearance and file their responses.
Sonko will have a further 14 days after receiving the responses to file rejoinders and written submissions in support of his petition and application. The respondents and interested parties will subsequently have 14 days to file submissions opposing the case.
The parties are expected to appear before the court for the highlighting of their written submissions, in line with the court’s directions.
The case, filed at the Milimani High Court under Petition No. HCCHRPET/E695/2026, names the Judicial Service Commission, the Attorney General and 10 other respondents, according to the court directions.
Sonko’s petition seeks to reopen the legal battle over his 2020 impeachment.
