Lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui has formally demanded KSh 50 million in damages from businessman Michael Makarina following a defamatory post on social media platform X. The post falsely implicated Kinyanjui in a bribery scandal allegedly connected to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
According to a demand letter from Mbichire & Co. Advocates, Makarina shared an outdated video showing the arrest of a retired judge by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The post misleadingly suggested the video depicted Kinyanjui's arrest linked to a Sh25.4 million bribe intended to influence Supreme Court cases involving Gachagua.
The caption on Makarina's post read: “EACC arrests judge and Rigathi lawyer red-handed in bribery scandal linked to Supreme Court impeachment case,” further alleging Kinyanjui's involvement in corrupt activities. Kinyanjui's legal team has categorically denied these accusations, stating he has never been arrested, charged, or involved in any bribery related to the Supreme Court cases.
They also criticized Makarina for failing to seek clarification before publishing the damaging content, which has caused significant emotional distress and harm to Kinyanjui’s professional reputation, with clients repeatedly inquiring about the false claims.
The demand letter requires Makarina to retract the post, issue a public apology, remove all related defamatory content, and pay KSh 50 million within seven days. It warns that failure to comply will result in legal action, including criminal charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
EACC Denies Arrest Claims
Separately, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission issued a statement refuting the social media claims of arrests related to bribery involving a High Court advocate and other individuals. The commission described the reports as false and misleading, emphasizing that no such operation took place.
The EACC urged the public to rely only on verified information from official channels and dismissed the viral posts as baseless. This clarification distances the agency from the allegations circulating online and reaffirms its commitment to transparency.
