Siaya Governor James Orengo has been ordered to pay Grace Moraa Ongwae, the mother of former Kisii governor Ksh1 million.
According to her lawyer Peter Wanyama, the 94-year-old woman dragged Orengo to court after he made defamatory remarks during a past public function in Kisii County.
Additionally, the lawyer stated that the governor was asked by the court to issue a public apology to the former governor’s grandmother.
“Governor James Orengo has been ordered to pay my client Kshs1 m for defamation and to issue a public apology to her. My client is a 94 years old and mother to the former governor of Kisii.
“During the demonstrations and at a public forum in Kisii, Orengo SC castigated the 94-year-old great grandmother in a defamatory tirade. Instead of doing his politics against his equal, he went after the mother,” stated Wanyama.
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Father of Former Kisii Governor Testifies Against Orengo
At the same time, the lawyer said that the father of the former governor testified against Orengo before the Kisii magistrate.
He explained that the 97-year-old retired Court Administrator narrated that he was listening to the radio with his wife when they heard governor Orengo make the defamatory remarks.
In addition, he asked that the governor confronts his son directly if they have political differences instead of dragging his wife into the matter.
“He told the magistrate that if Orengo had a political problem with his son, the best way was to confront him directly; there was no need to drag his wife in the matter. The defamatory words were widely published on YouTube and social media,” added Wanyama.
The magistrate therefore found that Orengo showed no remorse over his remarks and awarded the damages.
“In his judgement, the trial magistrate was satisfied that all the ingredients of defamation had been proved and awarded damages,” added the statement.
Also Read: Auditor Report Signals Trouble for Governor James Orengo
Orengo’s Earlier Troubles
A report released by the Auditor General on County Governments put the governor on the spot after it flagged several projects in Siaya County over severe delays, incomplete works, and mismanagement of funds.
Some of the project under scrutiny included the building of Early Childhood Development (ECD) classrooms, the Siaya Town Bus Park, modern markets, water drilling and equipping initiatives, and the development of a stadium.
Additionally, the execution of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Management Information System, as well as the procurement of land for a Biotech and Research Centre in the Yimbo area of Bondo Constituency was also highlighted by the report among others.
