UPDATE Tuesday, September 12: Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, who was named alongside Jalang'o in a Citizen Weekly article, has demanded an apology from the media outlet.
In a letter dated September 12, the senator's legal team insisted that the article, which linked the politicians to a gold scam, was 'false, offensive, damaging and highly defamatory.'
As a result, the senator demanded that the publication should make a public retraction of the article with equal prominence to the original publication and offer a sincere apology.
"Our instructions are to demand from you that in addition to the retraction and apology, we demand that a correction and clarification be published in the Weekly Citizen to inform the readership that the statements made were false and without merit," read the letter in part.
"You (should) compensate our client for the damage to their reputation, which includes any financial losses incurred as a result of this defamation, the quantum for which shall be discussed."
Langata MP Phelix Odiwuor popularly known as Jalang'o has vowed to take stern action against Citizen Weekly newspaper for publishing a story which he has claimed is defamatory.
The weekly newspaper, in its story had linked the Lang'ata MP to a Ksh1 billion gold scam, claims which the legislator denied.
In a statement, the legislator lashed out at the publication, accusing the media company of making baseless claims it did not substantiate.
“Rogue media must be dealt with! After the steps I want to take against Citizen Weekly I don't think they will ever sit down and write a defamatory story on anyone again then call to extort you in the name of we will clean your name! Ill not fall for that nonsense! Good day!" the MP said in the statement.
In the article, Citizen Weekly also linked Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang and Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda to the fake gold syndicate.
While describing the media organization as rogue, Jalang'o claimed that the publisher has developed a tendency of publishing negative stories on prominent personalities which are not backed by facts.
According to Jalang'o, the allegations leveled against him are designed to extort him but vowed the attempts will not be successful.
The MP said, he is prepared to go the extra mile to clear his name and restore his reputation.
Jalango’s statement came barely hours after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) suspended the Orange Democratic Movement's Party decision to expel him and two other politicians over disloyalty.
The Tribunal issued the order citing a case filed in court challenging the trio’s expulsion,
“In the interim and pending the hearing and determination of this Application, this Honorable Tribunal hereby issues interim conservatory orders staying the implementation and/or execution of the decision of the 1st Respondent to expel the Complainant, Hon. Phelix Odiwuor, from the Orange Democratic Movement Party,” read the tribunal's ruling.
