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Senator Sifuna trashes lawyer Steve Ogolla’s demand letter to Raila

By Mercy Simiyu February 1st, 2023 2 min read

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has rubbished lawyer Steve Ogolla’s demand letter to Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga over the remarks he made about the former chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati.

Through his social media accounts, Mr Sifuna poured cold water on the lawyer’s lawsuit threat, saying nothing will come out of it.

“All Steve Ogolla is doing is what lawyers do best. Helping Chebukati spend that hefty retirement package he received from the taxpayer. Save for legal fees, nothing else will come from that legal adventure,” Sifuna tweeted.

The ODM secretary general, who is also a lawyer, went ahead to state that there is no value in the demand letter’s subject matter.

Also read: Danstan Omari: Chebukati will only get ‘2 bob’ if he sues Raila

“Lawyers charge fees based on the value of the subject matter. In Steve Ogolla’s case, the subject matter is Raila Odinga. You will struggle to find a more valuable subject matter. Let Steve make that paper,” Sifuna said..

Also read: Mistaken identity that landed Raila in the hands of Nigerian police officers

This comes after the city lawyer issued a seven-day ultimatum to the ODM party leader for the release of video footage of the former IEBC chair’s alleged visit to Mr Odinga’s home.

Mr Odinga made the remarks on Sunday during a political rally at Jacaranda grounds, Nairobi where he claimed Chebukati and former Commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu visited his home last year while the electoral process was underway.

“Chebukati says that there are some people who wanted to bribe him together with his friends Guliye and Molu. I want to ask you… What did you come to do at my house? What did you ask of me? And I have footage of the incident)… you play with me and I release it,” Mr Odinga said.

Also read: Mistaken identity that landed Raila in the hands of Nigerian police officers

In response, Mr Chebukati through his lawyers have written to Mr Odinga demanding that he produces the video of the IEBC officials’ alleged visit, failure to which he will file a lawsuit against the ODM leader.

“In the circumstances of your allegations, and in the context of our client’s strong rebuttal thereto, our instructions are to demand from you, as of right, which we hereby do, to be furnished with the alleged video footage within seven days from the date hereof. Kindly take notice that if we do not receive the video footage demanded herein above within the demand period, we shall be constrained to institute appropriate adverse but lawful proceedings against you,” the letter from Saroni and Stevens Advocates signed by lawyer Steve Ogola, reads in part.

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