The war of words between Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has taken a new twist with the former threatening legal action.
In a letter dated November 29, Murkomen has written to the senator demanding an apology over alleged defamation.
Through Ongoya and Wambola advocates, Murkomen has given Cherargei a seven-day ultimatum to tender an apology over the words he used against him during a recent press conference.
“Our instructions are that we demand that within seven days from the date of this letter accept liability for defamation to give way for negotiations and tender unqualified apology in writing to our client through the same channels through which you published the offending words,” reads the letter in part.
It adds, “Take further notice that if you fail to comply with the terms of this demand within the time specified above, we have firm and unequivocal instructions to institute court proceedings against you without any further reference to you”.
This will be at your peril as to costs and other incidentals attendant to such court action, it reads.
According to the lawyer, the words used by the senator during the press conference on November 24, were interpreted to mean his client is corrupt, lacks integrity, unpatriotic and he has betrayed the electorate.
The said words, in their natural and ordinary meaning, the lawyers say, are meant and were understood by ordinary, just and right-thinking members of society that their client committed a crime by receiving a bribe, unfit to hold office and has covered up wrongdoing by seeking the protection of parliament.
These words, he added, are false, maliciously published without a scintilla of evidence and aimed at lowering his reputation.
The allegations by the senator stemmed from a visit by Murkomen to China to meet some contractors to finance some key projects in the country.
