Nyong'o to sue Wamalwa over ICC remark

By Athman AmranODM Secretary-General Anyang’ Nyong’o has threatened to sue Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa over his allegations that he wrote a letter asking the International Criminal Court to detain the ‘Ocampo Six.’
The letter, which Wamalwa read during a ‘prayer’ rally at Uhuru Park on April 11 asked Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s assistance in detaining the suspects ‘for the benefit and security of Kenya.’
Rachier and Amollo Advocates wrote to the Saboti MP on May 2 demanding a retraction, an apology and an admission of liability.
The advocates further demanded that Wamalwa desist from any further public or private comments, utterances or statements that are defamatory to their client. Nyong’o said the letter was forged.
The ODM Secretary General, according to his lawyers, has already reported the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Wamalwa told The Standard yesterday that he welcomed the challenge and will defend himself in court.
"The letter was read by a senior ODM party leader at the meeting, prompting me to read it and point out the serious allegations it raised," said Wamalwa.
He said there was no reason to doubt its authenticity because it was an ODM matter raised by an official of the party.
Nyong’o’s lawyers further claimed the logo and letterhead were not similar to those used by ODM.
malicious falsehoods
"The aforementioned allegations against our client are very grave and consist of malicious falsehoods and are further libellous in nature," the letter from Nyongo’s lawyers said.
During the Uhuru Park rally, Wamalwa told the crowd that the last paragraph in the letter said Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were warmongers whose presence in the country could make it relapse into the 2008 chaos.
In their affidavit, Nyongo’s lawyers said the allegations as uttered at the rally were aimed at tarnishing the reputation and good standing of their client.
The reading of the letter in public, the lawyers said, has exposed Nyong’o to ‘ridicule, odium, contempt and hostility’ from his peers, family, constituents and members of the public.’
"Instructions from our client are that the allegations are entirely baseless and untrue and their publication was inspired by malice, ill will and contempt," said Nyongo’s lawyers.