Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has hit back at the Standard Media Group for headlining him in the Wednesday’s Standard Newspaper story titled ” Devolved Corruption-12 years later.”
Sonko has explained that he has never been convicted of corruption in any court of law in Kenya.
” Article 50(2) of the constitution says every accused person has a right to a fair trial,which includes the right to be presumed innocent untill the contrary is proved,”
He says that he was acquitted together with 16 others in a Sh357 million cast for lack of adequate evidence before Chief Magistrate Eunice Nyotu of the anti-Corruption court.
Similarly,he adds that he was also acquitted by the anti-Corruption court in a Ksh.20 million corruption case before Justice Douglas Ogoti.The case was however reversed by Justice Nixon Sifuna at the High Court and the case is ongoing.
” I will refrain from discussing it here in accordance with the principle of sub judice but the Standard, ” githeri” gutter press is still claiming that I am guilty,”
Sonko is agrieved by the use of his image in what he terms as a baseless and sensational headline- which he claims has tarnished his name.
” This is responsible reporting that misleads the public and tarnishes reputations without cause,”
He has challenged the media group to prioritize inspirational stories that can united Kenyans,such as Harambee Stars exploits at the CHAN tournament.
The former Governor also wants the Standard management to fix what he believes are internal challenges including the plight of journalists reportedly gone for months without payment.
” Additionally,the Standard Group has not fullfiled it’s obligations to remit necessary deductions from employee paychecks,such as individual income tax( PAYE) to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA),”
He has promised to take legal action against the Newspaper,which he claims has gone for far too long in tarnishing people’s names.
” 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,” he said.