Moses Kuria’s loose tongue costs him Sh6.5m in case with Martha Karua
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has been slapped with a bill of Sh6.5 million for damaging the name of former Justice minister Martha Karua after claiming that she procured witnesses in the case against Deputy President William Ruto at The Hague.
Ms Karua had complained that the words uttered by Mr Kuria were damaging to her reputation and lowered her dignity among right thinking members of the society.
She said the words were malicious, unwarranted and defamatory in nature as they injured her character, personal credit and reputation as well as standing as a politician, business lady, family woman and an advocate.
BUILD REPUTATION
The former Gichugu MP said that she has worked hard and diligently to build her reputation and therefore entitled to protection.
She told the court that she has never met Mr Kuria nor discussed anything to do with the procurement of fake witnesses for the ICC prosecutor.
But although Ms Karua had asked for Sh20 million, Justice Joseph Sergon said Sh6.5 million was sufficient.
The Narc Kenyan leader said Mr Kuria made the remarks during a political rally in Kapsokwony in Bungoma County on September 21, 2015 at a which was ‘disguised as a prayer rally’.
According to the former Justice Minister, Mr Kuria alleged that he was ready to call her “to confirm” that the procurement of witnesses was just a political game.
She issued a demand letter the same day, asking the second-term MP to withdraw the remarks and apologise.
Ms Karua said that Mr Kuria was aware that the words would be picked by the media, including the electronic.
APOLOGY
But instead of issuing an apology, Mr Kuria made the same remarks at the precincts of Parliament Building, the following day, she added.
She said the claims that she procured witnesses amounts to a criminal offence as it damaged her image locally and internationally.
Ms Karua was a member of the mediation team, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
She was later appointed Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister in the grand coalition government, headed by retired President Mwai Kibaki and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.