Governor Joho sues 3 Jubilee leaders for linking him to drug trafficking

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has filed a defamation suit against Jubilee politicians; Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Kimani Ichung’wah of Kikuyu for claiming he was a drug peddler.

Following the suit filed by Governor Joho’s lawyers on Tuesday, Mr. Sudi, Mr. Sang and Mr. Ichung’wah are now required to appear at the Milimani Law Courts within 15 days.

“Should you fail to enter an appearance within the time mentioned above, the Plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgement may be given in your absence,” read the court papers.

“You may appear in this suit by entering an appearance either personally or by duly appointed advocates.”

Governor Joho on Sunday asked the Jubilee leaders to apologise to him within 24 hours after the leaders led by Governor Sang accused him of misleading the country on the handshake and “destroying many youth through the drug business that he runs.”

The trio, however, maintained their stand with Mr. Sudi, while addressing a press conference on the same day, urging Joho to instead apologise to Kenyans and the people of Mombasa for engaging in “unlawful” business.

Mr. Sudi further alleged that Joho’s name was in a list that had been tabled to parliament by the late George Saitoti in 2010, adding that: “Please go to court with your lawyers, we also have lawyers and we shall assemble and table both the Akasha and George Saitoti reports.”

The Mombasa county chief, in a rejoinder on Monday, tossed Deputy President William Ruto’s name in the mix saying he (Ruto) was behind the attacks against him.

Mr. Joho spoke at Mukuru Kwa Njenga after accompanying Irshad Sumra to have his name cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to vie for the Embakasi South parliamentary seat.

“I cannot engage these people that I do not know because I know they have been sent by their master; William Ruto. So the only thing I can say is let Ruto stop sending his subjects and speak alone,” said Mr. Joho.

The governor’s lawyers have further written to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) apparently seeking clarification over reports that his name is on the list of sought-after drug barons as purported by the trio.