Lang'ata MP Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o has reverted his earlier intention to sue a local publication that linked him to an illegal business.
The lawmaker said he reached the decision after he was advised against the move.
"We were actually planning to sue and everything but I've actually been advised that you know what, they thrive in that kind of news. Everybody was telling me just sue them but I realized they have written bad stories about everyone," Jalang'o said.
In an interview with the media on Wednesday, the legislator said he was surprised that the paper linked him to a deal worth Sh1 billion, saying "If I had a billion, what would I still be doing?".
Jalang'o and Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang on Tuesday threatened legal action against the publication and blogger Cyprian Nyakundi for libel.
In demand letters dispatched by Cliff Oduk Advocates, the lawmakers demanded a retraction of the defamatory publications and demanded a retraction of the article, a public apology and unspecified amounts of cash in damages.
"Take notice that if the foregoing demands are not met by yourself on the date of receipt of this letter, our mandatory instructions are to pursue civil proceedings against both the newspaper and the individuals responsible for this defamatory statement," the demand letter said in part.
Jalang'o said they work hard and do honest business and the publication probably mentioned them just to sell copies of their paper.
"When you read the story that's when you realize there's no story in it, it's just a topic for people to buy the magazine," he said.
He added that some people tried calling him for the purpose of helping him kusafisha jina (clean his name) but he turned them down.
"Kusafisha jina gani? Mimi sina jina chafu (Clean what name? I don't have a dirty name)," he said.
"Anyway, jina mzuri pia ni maiti tu (a good name is a corpse)."
He did not reveal whether or not the retraction of the plan to sue applies to Nyakundi.