Premium
Kihika, Karanja headed for legal showdown over 'political free speech'
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and Senator Tabitha Karanja during the 2022 campaign period.
A legal dispute is looming between Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and Senator Tabitha Karanja after the county boss's lawyers threatened to sue the lawmaker over accusations of making false claims linking the governor to corruption.
The dispute stems from remarks the senator allegedly made during a church service in Nakuru last December.
In a letter, Ms Kihika’s lawyers have demanded a retraction, a public apology, and an admission of liability, failing which the governor would initiate court action.
The threatened lawsuit could test the limits of free speech and accountability among elected public officials.
The letter accuses the senator of falsely claiming that Ms Kihika misappropriated Nakuru County funds.
Quoting the senator’s alleged remarks, the lawyers say the statements went beyond political critique and crossed into actionable defamation.
They contend that the comments were presented as statements of fact and not framed as questions or calls for investigation.
According to the advocates, the remarks were “solely calculated to injure the good name and reputation of our client and her standing in society.”
They argue that public allegations of corruption, without evidence, do not advance oversight or accountability but rather undermine due process. They add that such claims amount to “trial by innuendo.”
The letter, dated January 8, 2026, flatly denies any misuse of public resources by the governor.
“Our client has never misappropriated public funds and has never engaged in any fraudulent business,” the advocates say.
The confrontation comes against a backdrop of long-standing political rivalry in Nakuru, where Ms Karanja has often positioned herself as a vocal critic of the county administration.
Public debates over land use, health projects, and accountability have previously fueled political tensions between the county leadership and national legislators.
Ms Kihika’s lawyers insist the senator crossed a constitutional line and that the contested remarks were “a gross distortion of the truth and wild fantasy,” intended to lower the governor’s standing locally and nationally.
The letter warns that failure to comply may trigger civil defamation proceedings. The lawyers say they will be seeking damages as well as injunctive relief against the senator.
If the standoff escalates to court, it is likely to test the boundaries between political speech, oversight, and defamation.
Senator Karanja had not publicly responded to the letter by the time of this publication.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
