BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Lawyers defending activist Morara Kebaso have dragged President William Ruto into a case in which he is accused of cyber bullying.
Led by senior counsel Martha Karua, the lawyers claimed that the complainant in the matter was non other than President Ruto.
A draft charge sheet stated that Kebaso made the disparaging remarks against businessman David Lagat.
“If you look at the charge sheet and the particulars if at any name would be tarnished probably it could be that of William Ruto if the particulars were not true it can’t be that of David Lagat. So what is the fear of putting the name of William Ruto as the complaint?” Karua told the court.
She urged the court to reject the charge sheet claiming that it wasn’t adding up.
The Narc Kenya party leader further added that even if they go the trial the charge sheet will not be sufficient without the name of the President Ruto.
Karua together with Willis Otieno, Erick Theuri and Njiru Ndegwa vehemently opposed the charge preferred against Morara.
According to Otieno, the particulars of the charge sheet talks about reputation and not harassment. The lawyer added that if it was reputation, then the matter is about defamation.
“If William Ruto and David Langat think of Morara’s post injured their reputation to the right thinking members of the society, they should move to the civil court and sue for defamation as criminal defamation is no longer applicable in our legal system,” lawyer Otieno told the court.
“Will Morara respond to cyber harassment or particulars of defamation?” Questioned lawyer Willis.
The lawyers further submitted that the charge sheet presented by the Director of Public Prosecution Renson Ingonga terming it as defective.
They argued that the complaint was more of defamation that a criminal. They argued those aggrieved by Morara post should file a defamation case to seek for compensation.
“I urge this court to reject the charge as it does disclose an offence,” Senior Counsel Martha Karua told Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
The court will rule on whether Morara will plead to the charges or not.
