Thursday night’s #JKLive talkshow was brought to a premature end after an extremely agressive Mike Sonko became ungovernable in studio.
Prior to the start of this week’s show, a section of social media users labeled Jeff Koinange as sexist for hosting Mike Sonko just days after he publicly abused Esther Passaris.
https://cnyakundi.com/sexistjkl-kenyans-blast-jeff-koinange-for-hosting-nairobi-governor-mike-sonko-just-days-after-he-publicly-abused-esther-passaris/
Nevertheless, the show progressed and as many have described it, Sonko came well prepared and brought with him a huge bunch of documents to back his strong allegations against the Nairobi Women Representative.
Sonko began by defending his actions during Saturday’s Madaraka Day and insisted that his utterances were simply a reply after he was publicly provoked.
Sonko: Passaris is misleading Kenyans; I do pick her calls. She made allegations against me and I had a right to reply #JKLive pic.twitter.com/ffsLEvgAKx
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 5, 2019
He went on to accuse Passaris of constantly trying to swindle the Nairobi County government giving an example of how she demands for her per diems from both the National Assembly and the County; showing records of her various flights abroad which he claims were paid for by his county.
"The Nairobi County women representative wanted her per diem to be paid twice. I have not paid her and I will not pay" – Sonko #JKLive pic.twitter.com/HW4RiPqDe5
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 5, 2019
When asked to explain the genesis of their altercation, Sonko said that Passaris had been hired by a senior officer in the office of the President to attack him.
He also added that prior to the scene last week, the two had shared a very positive relationship and he even sponsored the ODM candidate’s election campaign in 2017.
“She (Esther Passaris) was under instructions from a senior officer in the office of the president to attack me in public… she was paid…” – Sonko #JKLive pic.twitter.com/MQeUQOjxef
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 5, 2019
During the latter stages of the controversial interview, Sonko began to get really agitated and Jeff Koinange looked like he had completely lost control of the show.
Sonko kept bringing up the issue of how Passaris, who wasn’t present to defend herself, invited him to a hotel room at Nairobi’s Intercontinental Hotel despite knowing very well he was a family man.
This prompted the director to finally bring the storm to an end. What followed were endless commercial breaks before Citizen TV eventually brought a different programme on air.
Due to standards and quality control here at Royal Media Services Governor it looks like we cannot continue with this interview – @KoinangeJeff
Sonko: Yes because you are one-sided, you are shying away from the real facts #JKLive
Interview ends… pic.twitter.com/MORdIzbvxn
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 5, 2019
As was expected, the interview sparked huge reactions on social media and we’ve sampled some of them below.
Mr. @KoinangeJeff: It's unethical to invite a guest for an interview then terminate the interview because of some dubious "editorial" and "quality control." Mr. @MikeSonko came prepared. @citizentvkenya clearly terminated the interview because you could not ensnare him. #JKLive
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) June 5, 2019
This is my take home from the aborted interview: 1) Passaris' campaign was funded by @JubileePartyK via @MikeSonko. 2) Passaris extorted @MikeSonko of tens of millions of shillings. 3) Passaris committed FRAUD through double Per Diems, air tickets and other payments. #JKLive
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) June 5, 2019
I'm just sad what our leaders are doing to us. Esther Passaris taking allowances and drawing per diems twice from the tax payers. From Parliament and from Nairobi County… This is unacceptable. KENYANS are suffering others are looting #JKLive
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) June 5, 2019
Esther Passaris Somewhere out of this country hoping Sonko gets stopped. #JKLive pic.twitter.com/bs0mzlxMoT
— S.N. Nyamao 🇰🇪 (@snnyamao) June 5, 2019