By Stephen Mungai
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has issued the Standard Group with a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw and apologise for a front-page story titled “Broad-Based Family: Speaker’s Network in State Jobs Sparks Storms,” describing the publication as false, defamatory and intended to damage his reputation.
In a demand letter through his lawyers, Wetang’ula accused the media house of publishing misleading information suggesting that he had used his position to influence the appointment of family members and relatives to senior government positions.
He argued that the claims were “malicious, reckless and devoid of factual basis,” insisting that the appointments cited in the story were made independently and through lawful government procedures.
The Speaker warned that unless the Standard Group retracts the story, publishes an unequivocal apology and ceases further publication of similar claims within 48 hours, he will institute legal proceedings seeking damages for defamation.
The dispute stems from a Standard newspaper article that highlighted several individuals alleged to have close family ties to the Speaker and who currently hold influential positions in government.
The publication questioned whether the concentration of individuals said to be linked to Wetang’ula in public office raised concerns over nepotism and conflict of interest. However, the report did not allege that any of the appointments were illegal.
According to Wetang’ula, the publication falsely implied that the individuals named were his relatives who had secured government positions through his influence.
His legal team argued that the article portrayed him as a public official who uses his office to reward family members with lucrative state appointments, an act commonly associated with nepotism.
“The publication leaves no doubt that our client is related to all the persons named therein and that he used that relationship to influence their appointment to public office. Consequently, the publication portrays our client, in the minds of right-thinking members of society, as a person who abuses public office to reward relatives with senior government positions, a practice commonly referred to as nepotism, among other vices,” the lawyers stated.
The lawyers maintained that, apart from his younger brother, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi, none of the individuals mentioned in the publication are related to the Speaker and insisted that they hold their respective public offices on merit rather than through family connections.
“None of the persons named in your publication is related to our client, save for his younger brother, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi. The named persons hold their respective public offices on merit and in their own deserving right, not by virtue of any relationship with our client,” the letter reads.
Wetang’ula’s legal team also defended his record in public service, saying he had built his career through hard work, professionalism and integrity while serving in various capacities, including as a Senior Counsel, businessman, political leader and Speaker of the National Assembly.
