Sonko Sues 'The Star' over Article Claiming He is HIV Positive

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has instituted a lawsuit against 'The Star' Newspaper for alleged defamation.

Sonko sued the publication over its June 7th article alleging that he is HIV positive.

Through lawyer Cecil Miller, Sonko says the local newspaper, through the article, exposed him to embarrassment and public ridicule. “The defendants published the said words calculating thereby to increase the readership and website with a view to making a profit from the sale of advertising space and airtime,” Sonko says in court papers.

Sonko, who says he never contracted the virus, argues that the article tarnished his reputation, integrity, and dignity.
 
“By reason of the matters aforesaid I have been deeply defamed and I have suffered damages,’’ he notes.

Sonko had given 'The Star' three days to apologize failure to which he would move to court.

Governor Sonko demanded that the newspaper apologizes in words acceptable to him and give the apology similar prominence to the story in question.

The article about the politician's health status was titled "How HIV report helped Sonko out of Kamiti Maximum Prison."

In the article, The Star claimed that the judge ruled that Sonko was ‘a HIV positive patient’, citing medical evidence allegedly on record.

The publication further claimed that Sonko was freed from prison three months prior to the end of his one-year sentence.

“These are contained in a controversial judgment issued by High Court judge Samuel Oguk (now deceased) in application No 80 of 2001,” the article read.

“Sonko had earlier in 1998 escaped from Shimo la Tewa prison but was re-arrested in 1999,” it added.

Sonko has filed medical records on his health status among his case documents. He did not mention the amount of compensation he is seeking.