Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has initiated legal proceedings against the Standard Group and activist Jerotich Seii, alleging defamation. Filed at The Nairobi High Court, Sakaja’s lawsuit seeks KES 100 million in damages for remarks made by Seii during an interview on Spice FM’s The Situation Room.
In the court document, Sakaja asserts that on January 26, Jerotich Seii appeared as a guest on the program, where she insinuated collusion between him and real estate developers to erect high-rise buildings exceeding legal height limits.
“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,” the statement read in part.
According to Sakaja, the program hosts failed to moderate the guest’s remarks, which he claims have tarnished his reputation and undermined his status as a reputable citizen, as enshrined in Chapter Six of the Constitution.
The lawsuit specifically highlights statements attributed to Jerotich, implying that the Governor and developers knowingly violated 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 purportedly stated.
Furthermore, Sakaja, through his legal representatives, contends that such remarks depict him unfavorably, portraying him as a self-serving leader indifferent to the concerns of Nairobi residents.
The suit reads, “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.”
The Governor’s legal action follows his prior litigation in 2023 against 735 developers for constructing buildings exceeding the legally permitted 4-floor limit in neighborhoods like Kilimani, Lavington, and Kileleshwa.
