Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has taken on The Standard newspaper, threatening legal action over a damning front-page headline that linked him to corruption while in office.
In the August 13 issue of the local daily, Sonko was pictured with Ferdinand Waititu, the recently jailed former Kiambu Governor; Okoth Obado, the former Migori Governor; and Moses Lemonkulal, the former Samburu Governor, all of whom have faced corruption charges during their time in office.
Titled "Devolved Corruption... 12 Years Later", both Sonko and Waititu were captured still in handcuffs, something Sonko despised, as he has yet to be convicted of any corruption.
"For the record, I will be taking legal action against The Standard for this malicious publication. I want them to show exactly where I was corrupt, how I was corrupt, and when I was convicted, like the rest of the people they have named in that story," Sonko declared.
"The use of my image and name in sensational headlines without a factual basis is a classic example of poor journalism screaming for attention without evidence. This is irresponsible reporting that misleads the public and tarnishes reputations without cause."
Although he has yet to be convicted, Sonko has admitted to facing two separate graft cases. One involved a Ksh357 million case, in which he was acquitted due to a lack of adequate evidence. The other is a Ksh20 million corruption case that is still ongoing in court, following his acquittal, which was overturned in the High Court.
"Please be informed, both The Standard newspaper and the public, that I have never been convicted of corruption in any court. I have been acquitted in two instances due to insufficient evidence," he stated.
As such, he claimed that The Standard had contravened Article 50(2) of the Constitution, which says, "Every accused person has a right to a fair trial, which includes the right to be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved."
In addition to threatening legal action, Sonko hit out at the newspaper, questioning its credibility and advising that the media outlet focus on stories that unite Kenyans, for instance, the victory of the Harambee Stars.
He also accused the media house of leaving its current and former employees unpaid. He alleged that it had also not remitted necessary deductions from employee pay cheques, such as individual income tax (PAYE), the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), private pension schemes, and Sacco savings.
"It is widely known that The Standard Group is encountering challenges related to delayed or unpaid salaries for both current and former employees who are owed salary arrears and redundancy payments totalling millions of shillings," he stated.
As such, he further claimed that this non-remittance had led the former employees to face difficulties while seeking other jobs; therefore, he urged the media group to solve its internal wrangles instead of tarnishing his name.
