Treason suit baseless, argues Moi

Retired president Daniel Moi has asked the High Court to dismiss a case in which he is being sued by a journalist.

Mr Moi said through lawyer Kethi Kilonzo that the case by Mr Otieno Mak’Onyango had no basis and should not be allowed to proceed.

Mr Mak’Onyango, who was charged with treason after the 1982 attempted coup, says he was arrested at his place of work on August 17, 1982, without a warrant and held incommunicado for almost a month.

Later charged

He was later charged with treason alongside a University of Nairobi lecturer but the Attorney General dropped the case before it could be concluded.

In his application, Mr Moi said the case had no reasonable cause for action to be taken against him and was meant to embarrass him in his retirement.

On Mr Mak’Onyango’s claim of torture, Mr Moi said such accusations could only be made against the individual officers who arrested the journalist.

Mr Justice Michael Khamoni on Wednesday gave both parties until July 30 to file written submissions.