Sonko says he has never contracted HIV in defamation suit against Star newspaper

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has made good his threat of suing The Star newspaper.

This follows their publication that indicated Sonko was released from Shimo La Tewa prison because he was HIV positive.

“Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was released from prison three months before completing his one year sentence because he was HIV positive, documents show,” wrote Star.

In the publication done on June 7, The Star wrote that Sonko sought his sentence to be reduced by three months due to his HIV status.

In the defamation suit filed through his lawyer Cecil Miller, Sonko says his HIV status is confirmed by the two tests done at Nairobi West Hospital and Nairobi Hospital.

The City-County boss says he has never contracted HIV saying tests carried out by the two institutions in 2011 and 2019 respectively confirms the matter.

Sonko faulted Radio Africa group for publishing malicious information about him without caring to verify the truth from him.

According to the court documents: “Radio Africa published the said article as a vehicle for character assassination without any regard to his rights.”

Governor Sonko also accused the writer of the publication of being driven by “malice, propaganda, bias and personal vendetta against him.”

The Governor is now seeking general damages for libel and slander and any other relief court may deem fit to grant. 

This article was published the STANDARD on June 15, 2019