Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has sued the chairman of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii for defamation.
Ndii is in trouble over a tweet that he published on July 17, claiming that Mwangi had received money from President William Ruto to facilitate his activities in the Linda Katiba lobby group.
Mwangi dismissed the allegations, reading to the defamation suit with demands including a public apology.
"At all material times relevant to this suit, the Defendant ran and operated a verified Twitter account, David Ndii, @DavidNdii, which has more than one million followers," Mwangi's petition read in parts.
According to Mwangi, the matter began with a reply tweet to Ndii's post, in which the economist made critical comments on people who have been criticising Ruto.
"On the 16th day of July, 2023 a twitter user by the handle @McOsedoh replied to a tweet posted by the Defendant on the Twitter platform as follows: Cant believe Bonny and Ndii were once in a group called Linda Katiba fighting fiercely for the rule of law and constitutionalism. How Ndii joined the mutilators of the CoK2010 is still unbelievable. Power Corrupts," Mwangi's court documents read in parts.
In response, Ndii responded with a post noting that it was time for him to expose the real reason behind the formation of the Linda Katiba.
"Time for revelations. Linda Katiba was formed by myself and Martha with Ruto support. Martha was then prospect for WSR running mate. Made made full disclosure which is why Makau Mutua was attacking me.
"Even paid Boniface from WSR campaign money. Hypocrites the whole lot," Mwangi's court documents read in parts.
Mwangi told the court that the words, as published on the Twitter page of Ndii and which are still subsisting as at the time of filing his suit, were released to the Public and were accessible to a wide audience.
The activist noted that the tweet injured his reputation both at local and international levels since they referred to him as one who could not be believed.
"By the posting of the said tweet, the Plaintiff was identified by a large number of Twitter users and he was the subject of ridicule and scorn by a cross-section of Twitter users, particulars of which will be revealed at trial.
"By the posting of the said tweet, the statement targeted at the Plaintiff was transmitted over the internet and reached a wide audience, including his wife, children, sisters, brothers, close family relatives, professional acquaintances, friends, work colleagues, employees and other peers in his professional circles," the court documents read in parts.
