Muthama sues Mutua for defamation

Machakos, Kenya: Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has taken Governor Alfred Mutua to court over defamatory statements made in a local newspaper.

Muthama has accused Mutua of putting up a paid up advertisement on January 22, encouraging members of the public to come forth with information on corrupt practices by members of the county government.

The advert, he said, casts serious aspersions and implies character flaws on him as it suggests he may have been involved in corrupt practices.

He is aggrieved by the mention of his name in the advertisement that called upon the public to report corrupt practices in the county.

The county governor, he said, acted with malice and was deliberate in naming him in The Star newspaper and leaving out his name in The Daily Nation.

"If not prohibited, the respondents will continue to receive any information from any individual that may bear any grudge against me," he stated.

In a sworn affidavit, Muthama said he noted an advert in a local paper that "claimed that I was aiding and abetting corrupt practices at the expense of the Machakos County."

"It is clear from the wording of the advert that the governor implies that I am a corrupt person. I believe that the allegations as stated in the advert are offensive and defamatory to me," the senator said.

He accused the governor of tarnishing his name by defamation.

"I believe the act by the governor, if not restrained will proceed to receive and manipulate any information under the guise of the advert for the purpose of tarnishing my reputation and thereby soiling and damaging my political career thereby causing me to suffer great loss and damage," he stated.

High Court Judge Weldon Korir ordered him to serve the parties.