FlyDubai Bribery: Ex-Governor Sonko Claims PS Mbaika Demanded Ksh 100M Cash in Midnight Hotel Payments

Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko and Principal Secretary Terry Mbaika are in the crosshairs of international investigations after allegedly fraudulently obtaining Ksh 100 million from an international airline.

According to well-placed sources, Sonko received the Ksh 100 million from FlyDubai Airlines to influence Mbaika to award the airline the license to operate flights between Dubai and Nairobi.

Mbaika, who is the PS in charge of the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, has however denied receiving any money from Sonko.

The scandal has rocked relations between Kenya and Dubai and caused the airline embarrassment, forcing both governments to launch investigations.

According to sources privy to the issue, Sonko has confessed that he was acting as the go-between for FlyDubai, which wanted more flights and a license to land at JKIA.

“When he took the idea to PS Terry, she didn’t ask for paperwork; she allegedly asked for Ksh 100 million cash. No discussion, no shame,” said the source.

However, Mbaika has denied receiving any money from Sonko, although she admits the former governor approached her to help the airline.

Sonko claims they agreed to give her Ksh 50 million first, and Terry allegedly sent her point man, businessman James Mbaluka, to collect the money.

Sonko insists he paid in four night-time installments at the Sheraton Hotel near JKIA, around USD 400,000 in total.

However, the source states that Sonko’s version of the incident is not accurate.

“The PS was in Dubai for another official assignment when Sonko and Mbaluka followed her there. They then invited FlyDubai officials to meet the PS,” said the source.

“The PS told them the application would have to follow procedure.”

After the meeting, the source explains, Sonko forged a letter to show that the Government of Kenya had allowed FlyDubai to operate flights between Dubai and Nairobi.

On the strength of this forged letter, FlyDubai released another Ksh 50 million to Sonko.

Embarrassingly, the airline then issued a press release announcing to the world that it would, beginning October 15, start weekly flights to Nairobi.

The announcement shocked Kenyan aviation officials who were not aware of such a development.

According to Sonko, after the PS received the money, she and Mbaluka allegedly pulled a fast one on him.

They quietly flew to Dubai to talk to FlyDubai on their own, trying to cut Sonko out of the deal completely and claim credit and benefits for themselves.

When Sonko followed up, Terry allegedly pretended she didn’t know anything and had never seen any cash.

Sonko says he has recordings of the talks, videos of the payments, and CCTV footage from the hotel.

He is reportedly ready to hand everything to President William Ruto.