Let’s meet in court, Cord tells Kimaiyo
What you need to know:
- “We demand unconditional admission that the said press statement was defamatory, an unconditional retraction of the said press statement, and unconditional apology to the two be published extensively in a leading newspaper.
- “The issue of damages can be discussed afterwards,” read a letter delivered to Cord leaders.
- Mr Monari singled out the statement in the Press that read: “Since President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto took office barely a year ago, Kenyans have watched helplessly as the tyranny of numbers pillaged public resources and abused power for personal gain.”
Cord leaders will not retract their statement implicating top police chiefs in the Karen land scandal.
Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama Sunday said the coalition was ready to meet police boss David Kimaiyo and criminal investigations chief Ndegwa Muhoro in court.
The two had demanded that the politicians retract their statement in the next seven days or face a civil suit.
Mr Muthama said Cord had evidence linking the two to the grabbed land.
“We cannot retract the statement we issued last week. Let them go to court and we will meet them there. We have evidence,” he said.
Through lawyer Evans Monari, Mr Kimaiyo and Mr Muhoro said the statement issued jointly by senators James Orengo (Siaya), Mr Muthama, Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Migori MP Junet Mohammed, and nominated MP Elizabeth Ongoro cast them in negative and defamatory light.
“We demand unconditional admission that the said press statement was defamatory, an unconditional retraction of the said press statement, and unconditional apology to the two be published extensively in a leading newspaper.
“The issue of damages can be discussed afterwards,” read a letter delivered to Cord leaders.
TYRANNY OF NUMBERS
Mr Monari singled out the statement in the Press that read: “Since President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto took office barely a year ago, Kenyans have watched helplessly as the tyranny of numbers pillaged public resources and abused power for personal gain.”
He said that the statements lowered the estimation of both the police and DCI bosses in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society, adding that the statement portrayed them as public officers of no integrity and dignity.
Mr Monari added that the allegations showed his clients were criminals who were misusing power and were not fit to hold public, state or constitutionally-entrenched offices.
The land issue is before court after lawyer Cecil Miller filed a case on behalf of businessman Horatious Da Gama Rose. Mr Da Gama Rose claims that he is the rightful owner of the land, having purchased it in 1982 through Barclays International.
