This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On October 19, 2019, a Twitter exchange between Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Lawyer Donald Kipkorir sparked a heated argument over marathoner Eliud Kipchoge's intellectual property rights.
Senator Murkomen, a lawyer himself, criticized Kipkorir for advising Kipchoge to take unnecessary legal action against NRG Radio over the use of his name to market their brand.
According to Senator Murkomen, Kipkorir overreacted by drafting a demand letter to the radio station, which could have been resolved with a simple phone call.
"I would advise @EliudKipchoge against unnecessary legal battles with entities like @NRGRadioKenya merely excited with his fete. It waters down the good name of Kipchoge. Concerns raised shouldn’t have been in the form of legal threats. A phone call is enough. He was terribly misled," tweeted Senator Murkomen.
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir responded, telling the legislator to mind his business and suggesting that if he was interested in the case, he should represent NRG Radio.
"My Senator …. Let’s have professional respect…. If my client thought you are a better lawyer than me, he would have come to you…. Let’s operate on our different lanes! Kindly, act for NGR Radio and we see the outcome," replied Mr Kipkorir.
The exchange escalated into a war of words, with both parties trading barbs.
