Sonko fails to testify in defamation case by tycoon Mike Maina

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Former Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko addressing media outside Milimani Law Courts at a past date. PHOTO/Sam Alfan

Former Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has failed to testify in a defamation case filed against him by businessman Mike Maina.

This is after Maina’s lawyer Ochieng’ Oduor failed to appear in court for the hearing leading him to ask the court for an adjournment.

Appearing before Justice Lucy Mbugua, Sonko through his lawyer Harisson Kinyanjui asked the court to dismiss the case for no show.

However, the judge opted to slap the businessman with costs awarded to Sonko.

Sonko told the court that they had appeared in court as directed at 9 am ready to testify only for the petitioner’s lead counsel to be a no show.

Maina, who is the owner of Marble Arch Hotel, has been in a court battle with the former governor over land issues.

Through his company, Muthithi Investment Limited, the businessman sued Sonko for allegedly interfering with his repossession of a 20 acre piece of land in Nairobi’s Kayole Estate despite a valid eviction order in 2019.

Maina accused Sonko of releasing a recording of their conversation in which he insulted him thereby initiating social media attacks which damaged his reputation and image.

According to the city businessman, the phone call recording, which was widely circulated, and the Facebook post, were meant to depict him as someone who is violent and corrupt.

While addressing journalists outside Milimani Law Courts, Sonko said he was disappointed that he had appeared in court ready to testify only for the petitioners to make the matter to be adjourned.

Sonko also accused Maina of grabbing part of Nairobi fire station land and using it as Hotel property.

According to Sonko, evidence will show that the said piece of land belongs to the people of Nairobi County.

He added that he has no malice against the businessman and insists records show part of Marble Arch Hotel sits on public land.

Sonko said his war with land grabbers is not over even though he is no longer the governor of Nairobi County adding that all those affected should be compensated.

According to Sonko, his downfall from politics was as a result of people allied to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and others such as his former lawyer Cecil Miller.

Sonko said Miller backstabbed him because of loyalty for money which is against his code of ethics as an advocate.

He added that he may not be holding a political seat at the moment but still has his political muscles to fight for the people of Nairobi County who once elected him to be their leader.