Mombasa court to rule on businessman Praful Kumar travel permit

A Mombasa court will next week give a ruling on whether to allow Nairobi businessman Praful Kumar accused of attempting to bribe Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to travel out of the country.

Kumar was arrested on August 20 by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives for allegedly trying to bribe Sonko with Sh.5 million to allow him continue with the construction of Grand Manor Hotel in Nairobi’s Gigiri area.

The charge sheet states that the accused being a businessman and proprietor of Grand Manor Hotel offered a financial inducement of Sh.5 million to the governor to allow construction works in his hotel to proceed.

The businessman denied the charge before Senior Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba and was released on Sh.1million bond or an alternative of Sh.500, 000 cash bail.

Nyakweba ordered Kumar not to leave the country without the consent of the court.

On Wednesday morning, Kumar made an application before the court to allow him to travel out of the country for one month between October 22 and November 22.

Nyakweba directed that the application should be heard on October 4.

“The accused should appear in person before this court on October 4 for the ruling on whether to allow him leave the country or not,” said Nyakweba.