Nairobi governor Johson Sakaja is demanding Kshs100 million compensation from the Standard Media Group and activist Jerotich Seii.
Sakaja has dragged the duo to court over for allegedly defaming him.
In a document filed at the Nairobi High Court, Sakaja is demanding demanding Ksh. 100 million as compensation for damages over comments made by the activist during an interview on Spice FM’s The Situation Room on January 26.
Sakaja said that on the stated day, Jerotich made remarks implying that he was conspiring with real estate developers to put up high rise buildings beyond the legally allowed height.
“On the 26th day of January 2024, the 2nd Defendant/Respondent herein, in a morning show programme dubbed “The Situation Room” that was aired by one of its radio stations by the name Spice FM, hosted the 1st Defendant as the guest speaker where alongside the programme hosts namely Mr. Eric Latiff, Ms. Ndu Okoh and Mr. Charles T Muga, went on a discourse of discussing the guest’s views about the recent unveiled Chinese Property Developers Association,” read the document.
According to the governor, the 3 hosts mentioned in the document failed to stop the guest from making the remarks that he says have affected his reputation and jeopardized his standing as a reputable citizen as reflected in Chapter Six of the Constitution.
“The community are organized, they do public participation informing the developers that you are not going to construct here and send them away somehow, these guys end up getting permission/permits that they require and finally after launching the association and going to visit the Governor Sakaja in his office, the following day all permits were issued and they are excavating as we speak,” Jerotich had stated.
The Governor through his lawyers has stated that the remarks painted him in bad light portraying him as a selfish leader.
“That the Plaintiff intentionally ignores the residents and their plight and has an “I don’t care” attitude. That the Plaintiff is a selfish leader who does not consider the plight of the Nairobians,” read the suit.
In 2023 the Governor sued 735 developers for erecting buildings that extended beyond the legally allowed 4 floor limit in Kilimani, Lavington and Kileleshwa areas.
Reacting to the lawsuit, Jerotich insinuated that she was only asking the governor to do his job.
“Are we going to stop fighting for our rights?” she posed
My fellow Nairobians:
It goes something like this.
Jerotich Seii: “Governor Sakaja – do your job. Provide information. Govern. Lead. Plan. Don’t pander. Address the chaos.” Etc, etc.
Governor Sakaja: sues me for defamation and wants Ksh100,000,000
Are we going to stop… pic.twitter.com/LyrdG6m7SG
— Jerotich Seii (@JerotichSeii) March 20, 2024