This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
On July 11, 2019, a defamation suit filed by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho against Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah and other lawmakers took a new turn.
Ichung’wah has denied defaming Joho in a press statement he issued in January, claiming it was an opinion and not malicious.
The statement was about the illicit drug trade, and Ichung’wah says it was not directed at Joho.
However, Joho claims that the remarks by Ichung’wah, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, and Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi have damaged his reputation and led to a loss.
‘They were also meant to mean that I am involved in the illegal business of trafficking drugs and that I’m a drug trafficker who is responsible for the wasting and deaths of the Kenyan youths arising from drug abuse,’ Joho said in his suit papers.
But Ichung’wah has countered that Joho has suffered nothing to warrant any grant of damages.
‘If any publication was done following the press release, then the publication was a fair comment and contained a matter of public interest. I have no authority to cause the press release to be published in print or electronic media or whatever platform and I want to put Joho to strict proof,’ he said.
On Tuesday, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Wandia Nyamu, directed that Joho serves Ichung’wa and the court with the video clip containing the defaming statements within seven days.
The matter will be mentioned on August 1 to confirm compliance.
