As row between Nairobi governor Mike Sonko and city tycoon Mike Maina thickens, the businessman has landed in court accusing Citizen TV, Jeff Koinange and the city boss of defaming him during a live show.
Mr. Maina through lawyer Njenga Njehia, said that governor Sonko, during a TV interview on Mr Koinange’s JKLive show on January 13, defamed them by branding them as thieves, land grabbers and persons of questionable integrity by claiming that the hotel stands on county property.
Mr Maina allegedly had a run-in with Mr Sonko following the demolition of Nyama Villa estate in Kayole, where the investor planned to build a multimillion shilling project.
But in a twist of events Mr Koinange and his employer have defended themselves, saying, the programme was aired in good faith and without malice, arguing that it was “on account of matters of immense public interest and is privileged.
They argue that they tried to control the governor, which was challenging, since it was a live programme that’s “practically impossible to control, limit and/or edit out that which is said by a guest of the live show” and therefore it’s the governor who should be liable.
They also said that Mr Koinange issued a disclaimer at the beginning, during and at the end of the show, saying, the views expressed were the guest’s and not his or of RMS.
“If fact, the second defendant (Koinange) first defendant (Royal Media) and himself systematically, formally and expressly [distanced themselves] from the contents of the statements of the Hon Governor Mike Sonko … Therefore, the party to bear the legal liability and responsibility if any as a result of the JKLive show aired on January 23, 2019, is in fact the Hon Governor Mike Sonko,” reads the defendant’s response in part.
This is not the first time the journalist has landed in court troubles due to defamation.
Back in 2015, Koinange was arrested and charged for contempt after failing to appear in a court to answer charges of discussing the conduct of a company in the media despite a court order barring the same.
Along with his guest Tony Gachoka, Koinange went ahead to discuss affairs of businessman Jimi Wanjigi, Mr Sani Mbui Wanjigi and Kwacha Group of Companies Limited despite a court order barring the same.
Despite serving the order, the three complained that Mr Koinange invited Mr Gachoka on his show on April 1 and went ahead to discuss what they were barred from broadcasting.
According to their lawyer Nicholas Nyamai, the broadcast had caused the company massive losses and undermined the court’s authority and wanted Sh60 million as compensation for defamation.