Cotu Boss Francis Atwoli is cross examined at the Milimani law court on February 5.Photo/Philip kamakya
Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi and three MPs have been restrained by the High Court from linking Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli to the killing of Kabete MP George Muchai, his two bodyguards and driver.
Justice Alfred Mbeya yesterday ruled that Kambi, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town) and Francis Waititu (Juja) should not utter any defamatory words against Atwoli, pending the determination of the suit.
The judge issued the orders after Atwoli said the leaders defamed him and other Cotu officials during Muchai’s funeral last Friday.
The leaders linked Muchai’s death to disputes at Cotu.
In an urgent application, Atwoli yesterday said Kambi, Kuria, Ng’ang’a and Waititu made utterances that have put his life and those of his colleagues in danger.
“Their utterances at the funeral were malicious and have exposed my personal and professional standing and character to public ridicule and embarrassment,” Atwoli said.
Through lawyer Jessie Oduor, Atwoli said calls by the leaders to have Cotu investigated over Muchai’s murder were meant to portray Cotu leaders as the ones behind the gang that killed him.
Muchai, his driver and two bodyguards were shot dead on Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi, on February 7.
Two people have since been arrested although they are yet to be charged.
Muchai was Atwoli’s deputy in Cotu before he became MP.
The two had been at logerheads in the recent past.
They had filed numerous suits against each other over the union’s affairs.
At Muchai’s funeral, Kambi said he knows the powerful people behind Muchai’s killing.
Kambi threatened to resign if police do not arrest and prosecute those who plotted Muchai’s murder, saying he knows them very well.
Kuria, Ng’ang’a and Waititu said police should speed up investigations and probe the battles between Muchai and other Cotu officials.
Atwoli now wants the court to permanently stop anyone from connecting Cotu’s infighting with Muchai’s murder.
He says such connection will be understood that Cotu officials are conmen, fraudsters, crooks and people who have been misusing their positions and influence to defraud workers out of their money.
He has named Rajab Mwondi, Rebecca Nyathogora, Francis Wangara, Joseph Nyabiya and Washington Ododa, all senior Cotu officials, as his co-petitioners in the suit.
The case will be heard on March 2.
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