The Kenya National Assembly majority leader and also Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah has been summoned to appear in Court within 15 days over a defamation suit concerning his tweet against Lawyer Danstan Omari.
In the summons notice, the Chief Magistrate commercial court administrator notes that Ichung’wah is required within 15 days from the date of service to enter an appearance in the said suit.
“Should you fail to enter an appearance within the time mentioned above, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgement may be given in your absence,” the notice read in part.
The case will be heard on June 27.
The legislator was sued on April 27 by Lawyer Danstan Omari who sought to be awarded Sh11 million in damages after the MP allegedly said the Lawyer frequents the infamous Koinange Street.
Omari moved with speed to sue the legislator for tweeting that he is known along the infamous street.
The advocate had submitted a demand letter to Ichung’wah, through his lawyer Brian Mabeya, giving him seven days to retract and apologize, but he refused.
In his plea to the court, Omari requests that Ichung’wah give him Sh11 million in damages for general and aggravated losses caused by the tweet.
Ichungwa is alleged to have tweeted “Phew! At least am known in Kikuyu by my people unlike the fake media-based liar only known along Koinange Street.”
Mabeya contends that the tweet was defamatory by innuendo, notwithstanding the fact that Ichung’wah’s allegation against Omari was false.
“He published the said offensive and defamatory tweet out of malevolence and spite and without justifiable cause thereby discrediting the good way and the reputation of the plaintiff,” court papers read.
He goes on to argue that the aforementioned tweet has the ability to damage Omari’s life by sowing seeds of distrust and hatred in the hearts and minds of people since he is a married man.
