High Court Judge Justice Mumbi Ngugi on Tuesday recused herself from a case filed by embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko challenging orders barring him from accessing his office.
This followed an application filed by Sonko through his Lawyer Harrisson Kinyanjui seeking to have Justice Mumbi and 2 others disqualified from hearing the case.
The Two other whom Sonko wanted to be barred from participating from the proceedings of the case include Justice Ngenye Macharia and John Onyiego.
According to Governor Sonko, the three judges had already expressed their stand on the matter before, hence their involvement will amount to the same ruling which he is objected to.
In a ruling pronounced by the three judges in two separate cases, Governors charged with corrupt activities should be barred from accessing their office until their case is determined.
According to the three judges, allowing governors to serve in their office in a way entrenches corruption and impunity.
Among the Governors who found themselves on the receiving end of the three judges rulings include Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu) and Ferdinand Waititu ( Kiambu).
The two were barred from setting feet in their offices as well as performing certain key functions of a governor.
Their case formed basis into which Governor Sonko, who is facing corruption charges, was disqualified from his office.
The ruling, according to Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji, also barred the City Governor from appointing his deputy.
The ruling subjected the City-County into leadership crisis considering that Governor Sonko had not appointed his deputy who will take up his roles in his absence.
Early January, DPP Haji dismissed Sonko nomination of the Deputy Governor saying it was illegal and violation of his bail terms.
Even as Sonko battles out with the order barring him from office, the City Chief got a reprieve on Tuesday after Coast Police Boss Rashid Yakub dropped assault case against him.
His case challenging the order barring him from the office will be mentioned on January 29.