Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko on Friday clashed in court with a man charged with creating a false Facebook account in the politician’s name.
Mr Joseph Gitau Njoki is facing three counts of fraud. He denied representing himself as the senator on a Facebook page he called “Mike Sonko Foundation”.
The court was told that Mr Njoki then posted this message: “This morning, I have issued cheques worth Sh6.2 million to Kenyans who sent to me Sh 1,000 on my M-Pesa line 0713004255. Keep on sending as I will continue giving out millions. To all my fans, comment wisely to avoid to be banned (sic) from this page”.
The prosecution said the offence was committed on July 11, 2014 and “caused needless anxiety to the community of Facebook users”.
Mr Sonko was in court to testify against Mr Njoki. The two men engaged in an exchange of words.
Mr Sonko called Mr Njoki “a conman and a thief who was out to use my name to cheat Kenyans for your own gain. That number is not registered in my name. You used my name to open a fake account to con people,” the senator said.
FALSE PRETENCE
Mr Njoki asked the senator to explain how he realised the account was working and to disclose the relationship between them.
Mr Sonko said it was not his duty to know how the account operated but the police who arrested Mr Njoki could give an answer.
The senator said he complained when his Internet account handlers found the online posting alluding to the number as being his.
“I don’t know you. You are a thief who preyed on vulnerable Kenyans,” the senator said.
Mr Njoki is also accused of improper use of a licensed telecommunications system and obtaining money by false pretence.
The court heard that on April 11 while in Mombasa, jointly with others not in court, he obtained Sh200,000 from Gideon Macharia Maina by pretending he was capable of assisting him to buy a new Nissan matatu.
Mr Njoki, who is in custody having been denied bond, had fled to South Africa before his arrest.
