Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's leaked phone conversations stints have landed him in trouble with the law after a City tycoon took him to court on grounds of defamation.
Mike Kamau, owner of the Marble Arch Hotel filed a complaint against Sonko for releasing a recording of their phone conversation, in which the governor is heard insulting him.
According to Kamau, Governor Sonko’s move has caused serious damage to his reputation and image.
“The continued defamation has spread through social media like wildfire to the extent on December 20, 2018, the 1st plaintiff (Mr Kamau’s) name was trending on Twitter following the circulation of the (call recording) video,” read part of his complaint.
The tycoon now wants the county boss to compensate him for libel, slander and the loss of business culminating.
He also wants the court to order Sonko to delete a Facebook post in which he alleges the businessman forged court orders.
Kamau also requested a temporary injunction barring Sonko from making any defamatory statements or publication in reference to him.
“Pending the hearing of the application inter-parties, a temporary injunction be issued directed at the defendant restraining him from making any defamatory statements and/or making any defamatory publications in reference to the plaintiffs,” court documents state.
The complainant argues that Sonko’s allegations and insults painted him as a violent, corrupt and dishonest person, none of which is true.
Sonko is accused of insulting the tycoon over demolitions of houses on a 20-acre plot located in Kayole estate, Nairobi.
In a recorded conversation shared widely on social media, the county boss is heard insulting Kamau and threatening to demolish his hotel alleging that it is built on public land.
He goes on to accuse the petitioner of forging legal documents approving the demolitions of houses in the 20-acre-plot.
The complainant argues that he had acquired a court order approving the eviction of residents inhabiting the plot.
