NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has secured a significant legal victory after the High Court in Nairobi ordered the immediate unfreezing of his assets valued at over Ksh 574 million.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Nixon Sifuna dismissed the application by the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) seeking to seize the substantial funds, which amount to exactly Ksh. 574,258,398.74.
Justice Sifuna’s decision effectively reverses the preservation orders previously placed on the bank accounts.
The judge’s core reasoning for dismissing the ARA’s application was the lack of evidence linking the former governor to money laundering or any other illicit financial dealings.
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The court found that the agency failed to demonstrate sufficient proof that the funds constituted proceeds of crime, a critical requirement for a successful forfeiture application.
This judgment marks a major setback for the Asset Recovery Agency in its long-running efforts to seize wealth associated with the former governor.
For Mike Sonko, who has faced numerous legal battles regarding his impeachment and corruption charges, the ruling restores his access to a significant portion of his wealth and provides a strong favorable precedent in his ongoing legal confrontations with state agencies.