Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has made true to his past threats of taking action against whistleblower Nelson Amenya who brought to light the proposed deal between the government and Indian conglomerate Adani Group on the leasing of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Amenya had in a televised interview on Wednesday, September 18, alleged that Senator Cheruiyot brokered the JKIA-Adani deal.
However, the lawmaker dismissed the allegations and threatened that he would be seeking legal redress against the whistleblower.
Amenya on September 27, 2024, shared a demand letter sent to him by Senator Cheruyoit’s lawyers.
Cheruiyot, in the letter, demanded a public apology and retraction of the statements made against him within 48 hours, failure to which a defamatory case will be filed.
“The purpose of this letter is to demand, as we hereby do, that you promptly issue a public apology to our client and retract the false statements made against him.
BE WARNED that unless you comply with the foregoing demand in any event within FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS from the time when you receive this letter, we have mandatory instructions to institute a defamation case against yourself,” read part of the letter.
Amenya has since responded to the demand letter through his lawyers, stating that no apology will be forthcoming as his statements do not amount to defamation.
JKIA-Adani deal whistleblower hits back
The lawyers argue that their client’s remarks challenged Cheruiyot to confirm or deny whether he went to India, adding that this does not constitute defamatory material.
“Please be advised that there is nothing defamatory that our client published against you and to that end no apology will be forthcoming. Should you desire to pursue some ill-advised action against our client please note that we have firm and strict instructions to defend our client against any such peradventure,” reads the letter.
“We shall welcome the opportunity to demand of answers to the questions our Client posed to yours and in a full public trial.”
Also Read: Aaron Cheruiyot Clears Air on His Involvement in JKIA-Adani Deal
Cheruiyot’s lawyers had claimed that Amenya exposed the lawmaker to embarrassment.
Further, they added that the whistleblower implied that their client is a scofflaw who violates laid down rules and regulations, is a fraudster, a scheming conspirator, lacks integrity, and that he is a faceless thief of public funds.
The legal team said that Amenya’s statements have affected their client’s dignity and reputation, planting doubts and mistrust in the minds of citizens at a national level.
Amenya on Wednesday last week said he was the one who brought the details of the Adani deal to the limelight, adding that not even political leaders – besides Cheruiyot – were aware of what was going on.
Senator Cheruiyot roped in the JKIA-Adani deal by Nelson Amenya
He accused the Kericho Senator of being behind the controversial deal, saying that the lawmaker travelled to India and brokered the deal with the Adani Group bosses.
“I am the one who shared the documents with politicians. Nobody knew anything about the deal and the documents, including Senator (Richard) Onyonka, except Aaron Cheruiyot who is the broker in this deal, and he was the one who went to India met with Adani and brought Adani to Kenya,” he stated during the televised interview.
Also Read: JKIA-Adani Whistleblower Spills More Beans
Following the remarks, Cheruiyot went bare knuckle on the Adani deal whistleblower, clarifying that he has neither met the Adani Group owner nor does he have any links to the company and its agents.
Cheruiyot, who spoke on the floor of the House refuted the claims terming them a “character assassination” attempt, reiterating that he is a man of integrity who had worked hard for everything that he had.
“I have worked extremely hard in my family clan to protect my image. Those who know me can speak to my integrity as a person. I don’t do those kinds of things and therefore even as a country as we call for accountability, doesn’t it behoove us that we behave better than those we accuse of committing such ills? We cannot fight corruption by character assassinating other citizens of our republic,” he said.
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