Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed claims by former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo that he was once engaged in a confrontation with the slain businessman Jacob Juma.
At Juma's requiem mass held on Thursday at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, Mr Jirongo said: " If the IG is sincere, Jacob Juma slapped the Deputy President some time back, that is where the investigations should start".
Mr Jirongo further added that the same hit squad that killed Juma a week ago, strangled Mr Meshack Yebei - an International Criminal Court witness killed during the time the DP had a case at the Hague-based court.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Ruto through his lawyer Korir Sing'oei threatened to sue Jirongo over the remarks which according to him, insinuated that he was involved in the businessman's murder.
"His Excellency William Ruto is further categorical that he never had any physical contact with the late Jacob Juma and the allegation that the deceased slapped him could therefore never have arisen," the statement read in part.
The DP's counsel said that his team was reviewing remarks made by Jirongo and other leaders at the memorial of the late Juma before taking legal action.
"Given the potentially defamatory character of the narrative aforesaid, it follows that parties that perpetuate the dissemination, publication or circulation of this narrative will not escape legal culpability," Korir concluded.
Months before he was brutally shot dead by unknown people, Juma said on twitter, "The person who is obsessed with plans to kill me is William Ruto. I am aware about it. I know that my assassination was planned on Tuesday [sic]."
Last week the Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirmed that controversial businessman was assassinated, further fueling speculations especially by leaders of the Opposition who have constantly claimed that the government killed Juma.
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