A 29-year-old man has been brought before a court in Nairobi, accused of pretending to be former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and deceiving unsuspecting members of the public.
Newton Kengere stood before Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe at Milimani on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty to charges of cybersquatting. The accusation states that he unlawfully established a Facebook account using the identity “Hon. Mike Mbuvi Sonko Rescue Loans” without the former governor’s consent. The prosecution did not oppose his release on bail but requested the magistrate to consider the gravity of the offence.
Kengere was apprehended in Riokindo ward in Kisii by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations after a thorough investigation. He is accused of engaging in a deceptive plan to defraud the public through educational loans. Kengere appealed for lenient bail terms, citing his humble background. The judge granted his request, stipulating that he must pay Sh300,000 in cash. The court will address the case on January 29.
Meanwhile, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has responded to allegations that he played ‘PR’ with Conjestina Achieng’s situation. Sonko claims that he made every effort to help the ex-Kenyan boxing champion. Sonko’s response comes after media personality Carol Radull claimed that Conjestina’s condition had worsened when she visited her in her rural home in Yala. The ex-governor says that Conjestina’s family hindered his efforts to assist her, but he still expresses his readiness to give her a final chance for recovery. The former Governor has refuted allegations that his involvement with Conjestina was just a way to gain publicity.
“I have seen a post by my good friend Carol Radull on Conjee, which attracted both positive and negative reactions from the public. Others were criticising and accusing me of playing PR and vipindiree. Kenyans, I did my best to help Conjee, but her family watered down my efforts. Fortunately, my heart is bigger than myself. At times, I fail to control it for the love I have for the people, especially the less fortunate, and I think this is the reason I initially gave Conjee the first, second, and now maybe I will be forced to give a third and final chance,” Sonko says.
