Nairobi Tycoon Sues Blogger Dennis Itumbi for Defamation

City tycoon Mike Maina Kamau has sued blogger Dennis Itumbi for alleged defamation.

In documents filed in court, Kamau wants Itumbi penalized and compelled to delete statements posted on his social media pages suggesting that he played a role in the July Kiambaa parliamentary by-election that was won by John Wanjiku of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The statements, which also linked Kamau to alleged criminal acts, were published on Itumbi’s Facebook and Twitter pages on September 22nd.

Kamau argues that the publication of the statements was maliciously calculated to disparage him in his character as an astute businessman, adding that they were not based on any ascertainable facts.

The High Court has temporarily barred Itumbi from making any defamatory statements or publications in reference to Kamau for 30 days pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Kamau claims that following the publication of the statements, he received phone calls from members of his family, acquaintances and business fraternity questioning him over the same.

"As a consequence to this, Mr. Maina has been brought to public hatred, pillory, ridicule, contempt, odium and will be disgraced, humiliated, subjected to untold embarrassment and ostracized," court documents read.

He avers that Itumbi’s posts were understood to mean that he received money from the "Deep State" to influence the by-election, and that he has committed a criminal offense under the Elections Act, and is therefore a man of questionable integrity.

The businessman stated that the falsehoods and innuendos may lead to irreparable damage to his reputation, image and standing.

Kamau had earlier sent a demand letter to Itumbi, a former State House digital communications director, asking him to pull down the statements and publish an apology.