Why URP governors are demanding Sh40 million from Duale
Days after Cord co-principal Raila Odinga sued National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale for alleged defamation, it has now emerged that two governors will also move to court to demand millions from him.
Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony and his Bomet counterpart Isaac Ruto have directed lawyer Peter Wanyama to file a joint defamation suit against Mr Duale, at the Kericho High Court, over statements he is said to have made in mid-August while attending a series of fund-raisers in Belgut Constituency in Kericho County.
In an interview, Mr Wanyama said he will be seeking Sh20 million for each of the governors in compensation for alleged defamatory statements.
“The comments that were made by Duale on that day are extremely defamatory.
PUT UP A FIGHT
“We expect him to put up a fight, but from our perspective, he has completely defamed the two sitting governors by imputing criminal conduct on them,” he said.
The lawyer accused Mr Duale of disregarding a letter from Prof Chepkwony demanding an apology and expressed optimism that the court would allow him to serve the Garissa Township MP through newspapers as it would be difficult to serve him in Parliament.
The case is expected to be filed this week.
Mr Duale’s legal headaches stem from a fund-raiser he attended at Borborwet Secondary School in Belgut on August 14, where he is alleged to have made the statements.
RUTO FURIOUS
Mr Ruto was furious after the majority leader allegedly accused him of having agreed to receive a down-payment of Sh50 million from opposition leaders.
The funds, according to Mr Duale, would allegedly be used to campaign against Deputy President William Ruto in the Rift Valley in a bid to turn the political tide against the DP in an area where he enjoys massive political support.
Equally, Prof Chepkwony wanted the MP to apologise for claiming during the Borborwet event that the governor had also been lined up to get Sh100 million to campaign against the DP.
The money would allegedly come from cash that sponsors have given Cord to use in preparing for the Okoa Kenya referendum call.
Two weeks ago, while attending a fundraiser at Kiptere Boys High School in Sigowet/Soin Constituency in Kericho County, Governor Ruto gave the first indication that he would make a move in filing a suit against Mr Duale.
TOTAL LIES
He dismissed Mr Duale’s comments as ‘total lies,’ adding that he was heading to the corridors of justice.
“People must stop coming here to provoke us. How can Duale insinuate that I can be paid to do such a thing?
“Do I look like someone who can be bribed in such a manner? When we raise issues that are factual its does not mean we have been bribed to do them,” he said.
The governor said trips by governors to the United States were meant to hunt new investors for county governments adding that such trips should not be misconstrued as seeking political support from outside the country.