Sonko Stands by Remarks as Defamation Case with Lawyer Momanyi Unfolds

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has defended his controversial past statements against advocate Lucy Momanyi, telling the Milimani High Court that his remarks were based on what he believed to be true.

While being cross-examinated, Sonko said comments he made during a 2014 televised interview, where he referred to Momanyi as a thief, were grounded in his understanding of events at the time.

“I spoke freely on the morning show. What I said were things I believed to be true,” he testified, referencing his appearance on Morning Express

Sonko acknowledged making the remarks but maintained he had material to support his claims, adding that he presented documents during the live broadcast.

“I called Lucy a thief and I have evidence she is one,” he said.

The suit stems from that televised interview, which Momanyi argues was defamatory and severely damaged her professional standing as an advocate. She accuses Sonko of making false and injurious claims before a national audience.

In his defence, Sonko linked his remarks to earlier events, pointing to a March 31, 2014 media report that he says cast him in a negative light, branding him a thief and raising questions about his acquittal in a Mombasa fraud case.

“I was invited to respond to the article to give my side of the story,” he told the court.

He maintained that his televised response was not made in isolation, but formed part of a wider and escalating dispute surrounding the estate of the late James Simon Bellhouse where the court heard Momanyi had served as a co-administrator.

Sonko alleged that tensions arose over the handling of the estate, particularly concerning properties he claimed were not disclosed in the will.

“I was not an executor of the deceased. The contents of the will became doubtful, and I sought clarification from the plaintiff, who ignored my requests,” he said.

He further told the court that the deceased’s widow had raised complaints with the Law Society of Kenya and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, claims that later surfaced in the media.

According to Sonko, the widow also reported alleged threats, prompting him to advise her to involve the police.

However, under questioning, Sonko conceded that he never recorded a statement with police regarding the matter. He also admitted he was unaware whether Momanyi had ever been formally charged with theft.

The court further heard that Momanyi was absent from the proceedings due to illness and was reportedly in Mombasa.