Activist Fredrick Bikeri on June 28, 2024, Nairobi – has filed a lawsuit against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, alleging that Gachagua’s recent statements about Noordin Haji, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss, were defamatory and incited public discontent.
The case, filed through lawyer Danstan Omari, claims that the Deputy President’s comments breach constitutional principles and the standards expected of a public officer.
Bikeri also targets the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) for failing to address Gachagua’s remarks, arguing that the commission has a duty to investigate such utterances.
“The utterances by the Deputy President were designed to discredit the offices of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the NIS, violating Article 10 of the Constitution which upholds national values and principles,” the court papers state.
Bikeri alleges in the claim that the sentiments issued by the DP against Noordin Haji were untruthful, inciting and unlawful, and falls against the threshold expected of a Public Officer under the Articles 73 and 75 of the Constitution as read with the Leadership and Integrity Act.
“The impugned utterances by the DP vide a press-conference held on Wednesday, 25th June 2024 are misconceived, improper, untruthful and unlawful made with the intent to cause incitement, advocacy to hatred against the interested party and fall short of the standard expected of a public officer of his capacity as the Deputy President of Kenya,” reads court papers
