Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has sued the Standard Group and activist Jerotich Seii over alleged defamation.
In a document filed at The Nairobi High Court, Sakaja is demanding Ksh100 million in damages over comments the activist made during an interview on Spice FM's The Situation Room.
Sakaja has stated that on January 26, Jerotich Seii was a guest on the show where she made remarks implying that he was colluding with real estate developers to put up high rise buildings beyond the legally allowed height.
“On the 26th day of January 2024, the 2nd Defendant/Respondent herein, in a morning show programme dubbed "The Situation Room" that was aired by one of its radio stations by the name Spice FM, hosted the 1st Defendant as the guest speaker where alongside the programme hosts namely Mr. Eric Latiff, Ms. Ndu Okoh and Mr. Charles T Muga, went on a discourse of discussing the guest's views about the recent unveiled Chinese Property Developers Association,” read the document.
According to the governor, the 3 hosts failed to rein in on their guest.
He has noted that the sentiments have affected his reputation and jeopardised his standing as a reputable citizen as reflected in Chapter Six of the Constitution.
Particularly the lawsuit quoted sentiments from Jerotich which have been stated to imply that the Governor and the developers blatantly broke the law.
“The community are organised, they do public participation informing the developers that you are not going to construct here and send them away somehow, these guys end up getting permission/permits that they require and finally after launching the association and going to visit the Governor Sakaja in his office, the following day all permits were issued and they are excavating as we speak,” Jerotich had stated
Further, the Governor through his lawyers has stated that the remarks painted him in bad light portraying him as a selfish leader with a don’t care attitude.
“That the Plaintiff intentionally ignores the residents and their plight and has an "I don't care" attitude. That the Plaintiff is a selfish leader who does not consider the plight of the Nairobians,” read the suit.
Instructively,the Governor in 2023, sued 735 developers for erecting buildings that extended beyond the legally allowed 4- floor limit in neighborhoods such as Kilimani, Lavington and Kileleshwa.
