Nairobi MCA threatens legal action against blogger over article

Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok./FILE

Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok has issued a legal notice to blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, accusing him of defamation and political sabotage over an article he published on his platform.

In a demand letter sent through his lawyer, Brenda Kogai, Imwatok claims the article titled “How Imwatok Pocketed Facilitation Fees Betraying Raila and Exposing Embattled Sakaja: Impeachment Threats” is not only false but was published with malicious intent to damage his reputation and influence political outcomes.

“The said defamatory message was published in the most malicious manner to hurt the reputation, honour, and standing of our client,” the letter reads.

“The publication was done with the sole aim of scoring political points and portraying our client as a political conman — a fact you know to be false.”

In response, Nyakundi appeared unfazed by the legal threat, dismissing it as routine.

“I receive so many such letters every day—this one is not any different,” Nyakundi told The Star.

“It’s not even worth calling to confirm if I received it.”

Nyakundi did not indicate any intention to retract the article or offer an apology.

The article accuses Imwatok of financial impropriety, alleging that he misappropriated facilitation fees meant for Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in Nairobi.

It also claims he betrayed ODM leader Raila Odinga and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, sparking political unrest and impeachment threats within City Hall.

Imwatok’s legal team has demanded that Nyakundi retract the article, issue a public apology via the same platform, and remove the piece entirely from circulation. Failure to comply within three days, the letter warns, will result in legal proceedings.

“Take notice that unless our client receives an apology through the same medium used in defaming him within three days and the above publication is immediately pulled down, we shall proceed to commence legal proceedings against you without further recourse, at your own peril as to costs and other attendant risks and expenses,” the letter states.