Nation Media Group (NMG) is embroiled in a battle with Governor Cecily Mbarire over a recent story.
Governor Mbarire is demanding an apology and Ksh200 million in damages from the media company, alleging defamation and character assassination.
This follows the publication of a report by the media house linking her to a Ksh2 billion land dispute in Nairobi County.
In a demand letter, Mbarire’s lawyer, Adrian Kamotho, stated the report in the Sunday Nation on March 31, 2024, falsely portrayed the governor as being “caught up in a Ksh2bn land row” with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
“Beneath the online edition, you luminously inscribed a caption below the headline, reading as follows: ‘Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire are tussling over prime land in Nairobi that has been the subject of a 16-year-old court battle,’”the letter states.
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“Manifestly, the publication was understood and indeed meant that our client is actively involved in a vicious battle with Governor Sakaja, over some prime land in Nairobi.”
Nevertheless, Kamotho contended that the substance of the report contradicts the sensational headline and caption, highlighting that Mbarire's involvement is only briefly mentioned in six out of 79 paragraphs.
The lawyer asserted that the report fails to substantiate the claim that Mbarire is entangled in a land dispute with Sakaja.
Consequently, the Governor is demanding an apology from the media house and the sum of millions for the harm caused to her reputation.
At the time of this publication, Nation Media Group had yet to respond to Governor Mbarire's demands.
