Prominent Nairobi Lawyer Issues Demands to Nation Media

The Nation Centre building in Nairobi's Kimathi Street where the Nation Media Group offices are located. Monday, October 21, 2019
The Nation Centre building located at Kimathi Street, Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
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Kenyans.co.ke

Prominent Nairobi lawyer Donald Kipkorir has issued a demand letter to Nation Media Group on behalf of the firm that imported the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the documents seen by Kenyans.co.ke on April 7, Dinlas Pharma wants the media house to retract a story published on April 2, questioning how the vaccine was brought into the country. 

“Ghosts of Covid millionaires in Russian vaccine import. As the Health ministry disowns Sputnik V deal, the circumstances in which 75,000 does were shipped in and cleared for use stinks of the Kemsa tender scam,” the publication wrote.

Lawyer Donald B Kipkorir's birthday party held at Villa Rosa Kempinski on July 7, 2020
Lawyer Donald B Kipkorir's birthday party held at Villa Rosa Kempinski on July 7, 2020
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The firm argues that it was not involved in the KEMSA Covid-19 imports or supplies and was not under any investigation. 

“The said publication was intended and calculated to damage the reputation of our client to the advantage of other companies or businesses known to yourselves,” the demand letter reads.

“Our instructions are to demand, which we hereby do, your prompt retraction of the said publication and unqualified apology to be given the same prominence as the impugned publication,” adds  KTK advocates.

Thereafter the two firms will then have to negotiate for the payment of damages suffered by the pharmaceutical company. 

The vaccine which has been used by two prominent lawyers as well as Deputy President William Ruto is currently banned in the country.

"There will be no licensing of private players in the importation of vaccines and any such licence given will be and is hereby terminated. The only agent for vaccination in Kenya will remain the government of the Republic of Kenya until further notice.

"The participation of the private sector in the vaccination exercise now threatens the gains made in the fight against Covid-19 across the country," Health CS Mutahi Kagwe directed on April 2.

Kagwe's docket at first said that the Russian vaccine was to be offered for emergency purposes but later backtracked, saying that any vaccine administered without MOH clearance was illegal. Further, any vaccine being sold to Kenyans was contravening the ministry's laws and regulations and the Public Health Act. 

However, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board approved the vaccine and was also going to be sold in Kenya at Ksh 5,500.

Ruto
Deputy President William Ruto receiving a Covid-19 Vaccine jab at his residence in Karen, Nairobi On Tuesday March 30.
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