French Company behind IEBC Technology System Drops Defamation Suit against Raila

A French technology company has dropped a defamation suit against opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Safran OT-Morpho, which has since changed its name to Idemia Identity and Security France, had sued Raila alongside other National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetang'ula and Musalia Mudavadi after they allegedly accused it of being involved in rigging of last year's presidential elections.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) communication manager Phillip Etale were also listed as respondents in the case.

In its suit, the firm wanted the court to order the six from making any further election rigging claims against it. It  also sought compensation from the defendants over alleged maligning of its name.

In an application on Thursday, the company, which supplied internet services to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the last elections, asked the court to close the case as it wasn't interested in pursuing it anymore.

The firm won the contract for the supply of Sh3.8 billion Kenya Integrated Election Management System(KIEMS) kits, which were used to identify voters biometrically. 

In its suit, the firm alleged that the rigging claims made by the Opposition leaders could have injured its reputation, thus impacting negatively on its business.

“The plaintiffs are apprehensive that the first plaintiff(Safran) may not be contracted to supply similar security and identity in Kenya or elsewhere in the world,” the court papers filed before High Court Justice Joseph Sergon read in part.

 “Rigging of elections is a serious and emotive issue in Kenya which in the past has resulted to violence. The plaintiffs are apprehensive that the defendants continuing to make allegations of rigging of elections against them will continue to suffer irreparable losses not only in relation to their reputation but also in loss of their business,” Justice Sergon heard. 

In response to the case through lawyer Jackson Awele, Raila denied authoring a letter that linked the French firm to bungling of elections. Other Nasa leaders fronted a similar defense.

  “The first defendant denies that it authored or cased to be authored the letter dated September 7, 2017 or provided defamatory information against the plaintiffs,” Raila replied though his lawyer Jackson Awele.