Court extends orders against Moses Kuria on Karua's ICC witness fixing

Orders barring Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria from linking Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua to the procurement of witnesses in a case pending before the International Criminal Court have been extended.

The orders, issued by Justice Joseph Sergon, expired yesterday and he extended the same to October 30, when he will deliver a ruling that might see Mr Kuria barred from making any statements against Ms Karua until the latter's case is heard and determined. The judge said this after Karua through lawyer Gitobu Imanyara said the injunction should be extended because Kuria would continue to hurt her reputation if not stopped.

"Your honour I seek the orders to be maintained since failure to issue confirmation will make the entire proceedings void and will continue to put my client's reputation at stake," Mr Imanyara said.

He said that defamation is anchored in the Constitution and anyone exercising freedom of speech must do so without destroying the reputation of others.

Kuria's lawyer Danson Mungatana asked the court to reject the application on grounds that the allegations of defamation were false.

"The application is defective and should be dismissed and struck out since the claims filed are not defamatory," he said.