National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has clapped back at Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who has threatened to sue the MP over supposed defamation.
During the burial service of Speaker Moses Wetangula’s mum in Bungoma, Ichung’wah, in response to Natembeya’s plea to the government to end the alleged abductions, linked the governor to a spate of forced disappearances and killings during his reign as the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner.
This linkage did not sit well with Natembeya and he demanded an apology from the Kikuyu MP within three days lest sues him.
However, in a response letter through his lawyer, Adrian Kamotho, Ichung’wah first stated that the governor has no reputation that he can claim was injured by his comments during the funeral.
The MP went ahead to quote Natembeya’s past utterances that seem to prove he is guilty of crimes against humanity while serving as a commissioner during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reign.
“Na mimi huwa naambia watu kwamba president (Uhuru) akiapishwa alipewa katiba, akapewa bibilia na akapewa nini? akapewa panga. Si alipewa sword? ya kufanya nini? Ya kukatakata watu. Na hio yote amedelegate kwetu," Ichung'wah quoted Natembeya in a now viral video.
Further, the MP noted that Natembeya has previously issued shoot-to-kill orders against unarmed members of the public, and masterminded excesses against innocent citizens.
With that, he said Natembeya’s public service record is cripplingly tainted with multitudes of vicious crimes and egregious human rights violations.
"Your client’s averment that he has any societal standing locally or internationally is outright blasphemy. Your client’s impression that the effluxion of time will sanitize his criminal past constitutes an enormous misapprehension. In the fullness of time, the wheels of justice shall eventually roar at your client’s doorstep, and there shall be immense weeping and gnashing of teeth," the letter by Kamotho to Natembeya's lawyers further read.Ichung’wah further took issue with Natembeya feeling defamed, yet when he made the remarks during the burial, the governor present could be seen smiling and nodding enthusiastically, seemingly in affirmation.
"Upon reflection, our client readily observes that your client’s fragile ego, erratic disposition and bloated sense of self-importance is not a secret. It is openly visible and readily ascertainable at no cost," the letter further read.While turning tables on Natembeya, Ichung’wah asked the governor to apologise to him for the remarks he made in a subsequent funeral saying they hurt his reputation.
Failure to apologise for the the “scandalous, insolent, slanderous and defamatory statements”, Ichung’wah threatened to sue the governor.
With no apology to make, as Natembeya requested, Ichung’wah challenged the governor to sue him in court, saying the case would be dead on arrival at the point of lodgment.
"Should your client succumb to fantasy and proceed with any misguided action against our client, the same shall be subjected to a high voltage legal counter, at your client’s peril as to costs and libido.Your client the Governor, is well advised to govern himself accordingly," Kamotho added.
