Detectives Arrest City Tycoon who Offered Sh1 Million Bribe to Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested a Nairobi businessman who was allegedly attempting to bribe Governor Mike Sonko.

Praful Kumar was arrested at his residence in Kanamai, Kilifi County on Monday evening and will be arraigned in court on Wednesday.

EACC said the billionaire was offering Sh1 million bribe to Governor Sonko for him to authorise resumption of construction works at his multi-billion shillings hotel in Gigiri which was stopped by the County Government on Thursday.

During the arrest, the tycoon was found with cash amounting to Sh5 million at his Kilifi home.

“EACC has arrested Nairobi businessman Praful Kumar for offering a bribe of Ksh.1 million to Nairobi Governor Michael Mbuvi Sonko to facilitate approval of his hotel under construction.The County Government of Nairobi had stopped the construction of the hotel on 16th August 2018,”said EACC in a statement.

"He had brought bundle of cash with him and we have counted the money and confirmed it is Sh1 million. We are now interrogating him and we will book him at the nearest police station as we continue with the due process," said EACC South region boss George Ojowi.

In a statement through his communications director Elkana Jacob, Sonko assured of his commitment to fighting corruption.

“The man has been trying to bribe me since January 21, 2018. We should support President Uhuru Kenyatta in this fight. Fighting corruption is like fighting terrorism. This war is real,” said Sonko.

The businessman will face corruption related charges.