Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's lawyer, Cecil Miller, threatened to sue Daily Nation for reportedly damaging his reputation as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, after the publication reported that he was under investigation by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission.
The report, published on January 23, stated that Miller was irregularly paid Ksh 252.12 million by the National Land Commission as compensation for a parcel of land in Nairobi.
"Miller is one of the lawyers who act for Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, whose administration was central in approving the land for payment," the report read.
In documents seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Miller through his lawyers argued that the report insinuated that he had engaged in corrupt practices, lacked integrity and honesty, was a fraudster, a cheat, thief and abetted a breach of the law.
"Our client has never received the said sum of money from NLC as compensation of the said parcel of land in Kajiado. The County Government of Nairobi has no role in respect of approval of land for payment in the compulsory acquisition by the government and more so, for this piece of land that is located in Kajiado County," the document read.
Miller's lawyers argued that he was not consulted before the report was published and that it was retaliation for representing Sonko against the same newspaper in a court case.
"Further, it is a well-known fact that our client is representing the governor of the County of Nairobi City in a defamation suit against yourselves. This fact alone has informed your malicious and defamatory statement contained in your publication aforesaid," the document stated.
The lawyers issued the publication a three-day deadline to apologise and retract the said defamatory statements.
"Our client has thus suffered injury to his reputation in the eyes of his peers, friends, family acquaintances and the right-thinking members of the society at large. Our client takes great exception to the contents of the said article.
"Take notice that should you fail to comply with our client’s demand within three days from the date hereof, our instructions are to immediately commence legal proceedings against you at your own peril as to costs and other incidentals," the lawyers warned.
