The woman whose name appeared in a viral payment confirmation shared by city lawyer Donald Kipkorir is now demanding an apology, compensation and the immediate removal of the post, setting the stage for a possible court battle.
Lawyers representing Catherine Cherono Tomno have issued Kipkorir with a demand letter accusing him of making false and defamatory claims that exposed their client to public ridicule and damaged her reputation.
The letter follows a viral post by Kipkorir questioning why a payment linked to what appeared to be an NTSA traffic fine reflected an account bearing Tomno’s name instead of that of a government institution.
The post quickly attracted widespread attention, sparking online debate and allegations of possible fraud.
However, the lawyers say the claims painted a completely false picture.
According to the demand letter, Tomno is a licensed KCB Bank agent operating at KCB Freedom Heights along Lang’ata Road and was merely facilitating a lawful banking transaction.
They explain that a customer who had received a traffic ticket first withdrew money through her agency before she processed payment to NTSA using KCB’s official banking system, which is why her registered agency account name appeared on the transaction.
The advocates argue that a simple inquiry with either KCB or NTSA before publishing the allegations would have established the true facts.
They further claim the viral post portrayed their client as a fraudster who was illegally collecting government money, allegations they insist are completely false.
The lawyers say the publication has had serious consequences, claiming Tomno has received numerous calls from concerned family members, friends and customers, while KCB has summoned her to record a statement.
They also allege that her business has suffered and that she continues to endure emotional and reputational harm.
They have now demanded that Kipkorir immediately delete the post, publish an unconditional apology and retraction, acknowledge that Tomno acted lawfully as a KCB agent, undertake not to repeat the allegations and compensate her for the damage allegedly caused. Failure to comply, they warn, will see him sued for defamation.
The demand letter also points to NTSA’s public clarification on the matter, arguing that the agency’s statement confirmed the conclusions drawn from the viral post were premature and unfounded.
The latest development marks a dramatic twist in a story that began as a social media post questioning the authenticity of an NTSA payment but has now evolved into a high-stakes legal dispute over reputation, due diligence and the responsibility that comes with publishing allegations on social media.
