Kibicho in court to stop Sonko from linking him to 2017 election chaos

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho at his office in Nairobi. [David Njaaga, Standard]

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho has sued former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko for linking him to chaos that rocked the run-up to the 2017 presidential election

Kibicho has obtained orders stopping Sonko from continuing to mention his name in relation to disruption of former PM Raila Odinga’s rallies after the 2017 election and linking him to an alleged grabbing of public land in Dagoretti South Constituency.

High Court Judge Msagha Mbogholi ruled that Dr Kibicho’s reputation and good public standing will continue to be damaged if the former governor is not stopped from uttering the false statements, pending determination of the suit.

“An order of injunction is hereby issued restraining the former governor from uttering or publishing words concerning the plaintiff relating to allegations that the PS engages in criminal activities and has association with individuals involved in land grabbing and unlawful activities,” ruled Mbogholi.

Dr Kibicho, through Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, filed the application claiming Sonko uttered the false words on January 24 at a public rally in Dagoretti South with intention to injure the PS’s reputation.

According to Ngatia, it was not the first time the former governor was linking Kibicho to the alleged illegal activities which showed that he had a hidden vendetta against the PS.

“The libellous utterances against Dr Kibicho were not an isolated case but a continuation of sustained and systematic false, malicious and reckless statements the former governor has been making concerning the PS since 2017,” said Ngatia.

Kibicho in his affidavit denied being involved in any criminal activities during protests staged by the National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters in 2017 elections, or being part of individuals who planned to grab a fire station land in Dagoretti.

Mbogholi ruled that the application be served on Sonko within seven days for him to respond by February 11 when the case will be heard.