Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo has warned aspirants against using abusive and defamatory remarks against incumbents under the guise of campaigning.
Odhiambo said campaigns are not about abusive and defamatory remarks but solutions to issues affecting the electorate.
His sentiments come shortly after he was awarded Sh5 million in a case he filed against his competitor Booker Ngesa for defaming him.
The High Court in Siaya on Wednesday directed Ngesa to pay Odhiambo following a Facebook post he made against the MP.
Odhiambo told the court that Ngesa wrote on his Facebook page that he stole public money and repeated the same allegations on a local radio station.
Justice Roseline Aburili directed Ngesa to pay aggravated damages of Sh5 million to the legislator.
“This court has also issued a permanent injunction restraining Ngesa from continuing to defame the MP,” the judge said in her judgment.
Odhiambo said the repercussion of using abusive and defamatory words during campaigns is more costly than even losing the election itself.
The MP said Ngesa is like his younger brother but his behaviour is sometimes unbecoming and that is why he chose to deal with him through the rule of law.
“I was also in a position to insult him but my conscious as a leader could not allow me to engage in a war of words with Ngesa,” Odhiambo said.
The MP welcomed the court’s decision, saying the Sh5 million he was awarded will enhance his peaceful campaign in the constituency.
“Ngesa has no option but to pay the money and if he doesn’t, the court will auction his assets,” the MP said.
Odhiambo said going forward, the youth should not allow themselves to be misused in engineering violence before and after elections as they will have to carry their own cross when caught.
“This is an aspirant and he is going to struggle to pay me Sh5 million. You can imagine what can happen to a hand-to-mouth youth who has been incited to defame leaders,” he added.
-Edited by SKanyara
