Popular rapper Kennedy Ombima alias King Kaka has secured the services of two senior counsels Ahmedanasir Abdullahi and Martha Karua.
The lawyers were quick to offer their legal expertise after Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru threatened to sue the rapper over his song 'Wajinga Nyinyi'.
"I said and I repeat. I will give legal representation to King Kaka against anyone who sues him for the lyric Wajinga Nyinyi," the Senior Counsel announced on his Twitter page.
He went on to state that the song was not defamatory and that Waiguru's threats were just a way to underline her privilege as a member of the political elite.
"I'm of the considered view that no one amongst the ruling elites or the masses was defamed. Ugly, crass, and lewd commentaries on society are privileged," he stated.
On her part, Martha Karua volunteered to not only help in raising funds for the musician's legal team, but offered her legal expertise as well.
"Let's mobilize for his defence fund. But I am available to assist should it be necessary," she posted on her Twitter page.
However, KTN's Point Blank host Tony Gachoka was quick to question the legality of the lawyer's proposal, as he had also represented the Kirinyaga Governor when she was being probed by EACC in connection to the NYS scandal back in 2015.
"Ahmed are you now legally acting against your client Waiguru who you represented on NYS allegations? Be honest! Let us know. You can’t act for both. Where are your ethics?" Gachoka posed.
Noel, an associate lawyer at Okwach and Company Advocates, told Kenyans.co.ke spoke that it went against the code of ethics.
"Neither Ahmed nor his office can defend King Kaka regarding NYS due to conflict of interest as well as ethical concerns, but he can do it on any other issue," Noel stated.
However, a representative from Bowmans Legal argued that there wasn't any conflict of interest because "it’s not a case where King Kaka is trying to prove Waiguru stole, so it's a criminal case of Kaka versus Waiguru.
It’s a defamation case to prove Kaka’s song is based on public information".
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen also weighed in on the issue, stating that it was well within any citizen's rights to criticize leaders, going on to cite a past case- NYT versus Sullivan.
“Debate on public issues should be uninhibited...it may well include vehement attacks on government and public officials. We shall find that the censorial power is in the people over the government, and not in the government over the people,” Justice William J. Brennan Junior in NYT versus Sullivan.
Waiguru had on Monday, December 16, issued a demand letter, ordering King Kaka to pull down his latest song or risk legal recourse.
