Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah has taken a swipe at lawyer Danstan Omari for what he termed as attention-seeking media theatrics.
This was after Omari withdrew a suit he had filed against the MP for alleged libel.
According to reports, Omari had sued Ichung’wah demanding Sh11 million in damages over claims that he had allegedly said that Omari frequents Koinange Street in Nairobi, infamous for its call girls.
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In a statement on his Twitter handle, Ichung’wah said he was ready to face the lawyer in court, even though he had not been served with the suit papers.
Sometime back i learnt from the media i was being sued,i was never served. NOW,Seen this apparent withdrawal?
— Kimani Ichung’wah (@KIMANIICHUNGWAH) May 11, 2023
How now when i was sooo ready?
I am the last man to be intimidated and someone MUST desist from using my name for attention seeking media theatrics! Prosecute cases in… pic.twitter.com/ilTTZy6bUD
He described the move by Danstan Omari as regrettable, adding that he would not be intimidated by anyone seeking attention using his name.
“I am the last man to be intimidated and someone must desist from using my name for attention seeking media theatrics! Prosecute cases in Court not in media houses!” Ichung’wah tweeted.
Omari had demanded that Ichung’wah retract and apologize for his statement, but the MP refused.
The advocate argued that the tweet could potentially ruin his life by planting seeds of doubt and hate in the hearts and minds of people, given that he is a married man.
He had also prayed in his suit for the court to restrain Ichung’wah from further publishing or causing to be published words defamatory to him.
However, Lawyer Danstan Omari withdrew the suit via a notice of withdrawal filed on April 27, 2023, two days after the matter was filed.
The notice of withdrawal, which listed Omari as the plaintiff and Ichung’wah as the defendant, was served to Osogo, Onyiego, and Manyara Advocates.
The move by Omari to withdraw the suit came as a surprise to many, with some speculating that he had been pressured to do so. Others questioned his motive for suing in the first place, given that he had not been named directly by the MP.
Political analysts have also weighed in on the matter, with some saying that it was a case of political grandstanding by both parties. They argued that the suit was a ploy by Omari to gain publicity, while Ichung’wah was using it to appeal to his base.
However, others have criticized both parties for using the media to fight their battles instead of going to court. They argued that such actions undermine the rule of law and could set a bad precedent for others.
The incident has also raised concerns about the rising cases of defamation and libel in the country, with some calling for stricter laws to protect individuals from malicious attacks.
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