Miguna Miguna To Sue Standard Media Group

UPDATE: Outspoken lawyer, Miguna Miguna, has instructed his advocates to file a lawsuit against Standard Media Group (SMG) on grounds of defamation.

The lawyer alleged that he had never spoken with anyone from Spice FM or Standard Media Group on Friday or Monday morning, as alleged by Tom Japanni, the Standard Group General Manager - Radio Products.

"I think it's very unfortunate he refused to sign. We had spoken earlier on Friday and made it clear that he had to sign the indemnity form.

"It is not that we don't have confidence in his articulation of issues. He accepted and said there was no problem until he came this morning and refused to sign. We were coming with clean hands and expected the same from him," said Japanni as quoted by Standard Digital.

Miguna however denied Japanni's claims and affirmed that he will pursue legal means.

"I've given instructions to my advocates to sue Standard Group for defamation. I never agreed to sign the indemnity form. Not on Friday. Not ever. I never spoke with anyone from Spice FM or the Standard Group before 7:02 AM today (Monday) when they tried to impose the illegal conditions," he stated.

Lawyer Miguna Miguna has cancelled an interview with Spice FM and KTN Home after being informed of the strict rules imposed by the Standard Media Group (SMG).

According to the firebrand lawyer, who shared the rules captured in a form on social media on Monday, October 24, he was required to sign a guest indemnity form before appearing on The Situation Room hosted by Eric Latiff, Charles Muga and Ndu Okoh. 

He highlighted Clause 5 which compelled him to give a blanket indemnity of the company, which he termed as efforts to gag him before the interview began, a form he refused to sign eventually.

Inside studios at Spice FM. /FACEBOOK

"I hereby release, discharge, and agree to fully indemnify the Company its legal representatives and assigns, from all claims, causes of action and liability of any kind, now known or unknown, in law or in equity out of the Interview including, without limitation to claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of one's personal and/or sensitive data," read part of the indemnity form. 

Miguna questioned the double standards set by the Mombasa Road-based radio station, calling it out for not compelling its other guests to sign such forms in order to appear in interviews.

"I've appeared on TV and radio for the past 30 years but not once has a media house - including Standard and KTN News asked me to sign a blanket indemnity form. Spice FM has never asked any of its previous guests to sign the ridiculous form they tried to force on me," Miguna blasted.

Here is the indemnity form shared by Miguna: 

1. I have voluntarily agreed to be interviewed by The Standard Group PLC and its subsidiaries ("the Company") to share my personal experience, remarks and/or opinion(s), on the topic/issue under discussion ("Interview") during the ("Show/Programme") and I acknowledge prior details of the same has been shared with me.

2. The statements made by myself during the Interview are my own statements and do not in anyway represent nor reflect the views, opinion nor position of the Company on the topic/issue under discussion in the Interview.

3. I have granted the Company all rights in perpetuity without limitation to copyright and image rights for material created from the Interview. This right shall extend to the use and publication of the interview material across the Company's media and online platforms.

4. I waive the right to inspect, examine or approve the content extracted from the Interview to be used by the Company across its media and online platforms.

5. I hereby release, discharge, and agree to fully indemnify the Company its legal representatives and assigns, from all claims, causes of action and liability of any kind, now known or unknown, in law or in equity out of the Interview including, without limitation to claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of one's personal and/or sensitive data.

6. I further understand that failure to sign this indemnity does not discharge me from my obligations/duties under this agreement particularly that I shall fully indemnify the Company, its legal representatives and assigns, from all claims arising from the Interview.

7. I have read and understood the contents of this Indemnity Form and its binding effect to me, my, representative and assigns and in participating in the Interview thereby agree to be bound by the terms of this Indemnity form.

Miguna had previously collided with NTV editorial director, Joe Ageyo after he accused him of cutting him short several times during the live interview on Friday, October 21, while he was trying to carefully explain his points.

"Just wait. You are in a hurry and that's the problem of the Kenyan media. So let me say this. Listen Joe Ageyo you are trying to disrupt me from what am saying. No, it's not.

"I'm going to make it as robust as it should be. Let me make it robust. I'm not finished Joe, please. This is the only point I was going to make during this interview," he interjected.