Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has confirmed that two top officials of workers union demanded Sh 1 million in order to call off strike that threatened to bring halt the operation of Council in 2017.
The city county boss revealed to the court that he uses people whom he trust and gadgets in recording and trapping people who ask bribe from him.
“I did not offer any offer and anyone who asks for bribe from me, it is known what I do,” said Sonko
Sonko denied offering 200,000 shillings to the union officials who are allegedly accused of demanding for a bribe so as to call off strike over unpaid salaries during his first days inthe county as the boss.
The governor while giving evidence before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti, said Mr Benson Olianga Oriaro Union secretary general and his deputy John Benard Murioki, solicited for bribe which he refused to give.
He testified that the money was being demanded after the union issued strike notice through a letter dated 10 October 2017 when he was only one month old in office.
In declining to submit to the demand of the two accused persons, he instead sought time to consult how workers were going to be paid their salaries for the month of September 2017.
” Had just taken over from former Governor Evans Kidero and discovered that there was rampart corruption within the County I could not allow the same to spread to my office” he said.
Sonko further admitted he used to have issues with manning the county during the first days but no longer have issues with the workers .
“I cannot give any bribe to any county official, “said Sonko.
He told trial Magistrate, that when the accused insisted for the bribe, he took action by having the matter reported to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission for investigation.
The commission did send its officers with treated money which they gave the accused in their office and were subsequently arrested before being arraigned in court.
Its my complaint that led to the arrest of the two accused who are before the court whom he identified upon being asked by the prosecutor.
The governor while cross examined by the accused lawyers, Bryan Otieno and Bernard Muriuki, said he was out to fight corruption in the County.
The two are facing six graft charges
