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Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has filed a petition against Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei over defamation claims.

Murkomen, through Ongoya and Wambolwa Advocates, says that on or about November 24, 2023, at a press conference, Cherargei claimed that the CS had visited China several times between June and October 2023 and received a bribe of $100 million from China Wu Yi contractors.

“Plaintiff avers that the above words in the natural and ordinary sense are defamatory as they tend to lower his reputation in the estimation of ordinary, just and right-thinking members of society,” Murkomen argues in court papers.

“The Plaintiff avers that the said words are false and the same were uttered by the Defendant without any colour of right, excuse or justification. As a result, the Plaintiff has suffered an injury to his reputation and holds the defendant liable.”

Murkomen says the defamatory words were widely covered in the print and electronic media and that the same are still in wide circulation on the Internet, including on the Defendant’s verified Facebook page.

He further asserts that his intention to maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity owing to his State office as Cabinet Secretary, and having served in other offices of honour such as elected Senator of Elgeyo Marakwet, Chairperson of Devolution Committee of the Senate, Deputy Leader of Majority as well as the Majority Leader in the Senate.

On December 7, 2023 Murkomen served Cherargei with a demand letter regarding the defamatory utterances and asked the senator to apologise.

Cherargei was, however, adamant, insisting that he would fight the matter “in court, in the sea, on air and everywhere”.