Jalang'o Submits After Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi Vows To Counter Lawsuit
He reiterated that the claims linking him to a Ksh1 billion fake gold scam had tarnished his reputation but owing to the potent power of rogue media, he would not sue as earlier intended.
Marvin Chege 
Lang'ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o has announced that he made a U-turn in his decision to impose a cease and desist letter against controversial blogger Cyprian Nyakundi.
Speaking to YouTuber Eve Mungai at Wilson Airport on Wednesday, September 13, Jalang'o argued that the decision to walk back on taking legal action against the blogger was informed by fears that Nyakundi would go to the extreme and causing him and his family pain and frustration.
He reiterated that the claims linking him to a Ksh1 billion fake gold scam had tarnished his reputation but owing to the potent power of rogue media, he would not sue as earlier intended.
"I woke up the other day to the news that I was part of a group that is linked to the Ksh1 billion scandal. Can you imagine, Ksh1 billion? What would I be doing here if I had Ksh1 billion?
"It is very sad that we have rogue media that can just wake up...you know media built me to where I am. We were actually planning to sue and everything but I have been advised not to sue because these media people thrive on such news," Jalang'o stated.
The Lang'ata Member of Parliament explained that moving to sue the Writer would trigger a murky and messy legal battle as Nyakundi belonged to those who had the power to expose anything, and everything, about him.
He however argued that he was an honest man doing credible business and worked hard with integrity.
"Everybody was telling me to sue them but there I realised that they have written bad stories about everyone in the society.
"Some of them were calling me and telling me that they would like to help me clean my name. I have made it clear that I am not interested in any name-cleaning process," Jalang'o went on.
Hours after Jalang'o issued the demand letter, Nyakundi threatened to counter the lawsuit by challenging Jalang'o to a legal showdown, contracting the services of Nairobi lawyer, Donald Kipkorir.
The blogger in the letter claimed that Jalang'o would be compelled to reveal his source of wealth as per the Leadership & Integrity Act and Access to Information Act.
"We have been retained by Cyprian Nyakundi, our Client, to act for him herein. Our Client avers that your allegations and Claim are without Constitutional, legal and factual basis and peremptory denies in toto the same.
"Our Client will defend any ill-advised Suit and will Counter-claim for full disclosure under The Leadership & Integrity Act and Access to Information Act. Be guided appropriately," Kipkorir warned Jalang'o.
The Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 (No. 19 of 2012) is an Act of Parliament which gives effect to, and establishes procedures and mechanisms for the effective administration of Chapter Six of the Constitution.
It is also aimed at promoting ethics, integrity and servant leadership among State officers; to provide for the extension of the application of certain provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution and this Act to public officers and for connected purposes.
Contained in Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Act also demands respect for the law, devotion to duty and commitment to public service and prohibits public officers from engaging in a number of activities, including corruption, nepotism, conflict of interest, abuse of office and misuse of public resources.
The Act establishes the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) as the independent body responsible for enforcing the Act. The EACC has the power to investigate, prosecute, and punish public officers who violate the Act.
Jalang'o had on Tuesday, September 12 ordered Nyakundi to make an immediate public retraction of the defamatory tweet published on his Twitter (now X) account with equal prominence to the original publication, which retraction should acknowledge the false nature of the allegations and offer a sincere apology to the lawmaker.
A photo of bars of gold. /STANDARD DIGITAL
