Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and its CEO Wilson Muthaura have threatened to sue blogger Cyprian Nyakundi for defamation over Facebook posts and a blog insinuating sexual harassment being tolerated in the company.
In a demand notice to the blogger dated January 9, 2022, J.K. Kibicho & Company Advocates, acting on KTDA’s behalf, have given the blogger twelve hours to retract said articles from his website and issue an apology.
The tea agency alleges that Nyakundi defamed the company and its CEO in a series of posts that allege a female employee had been sexually harassed by Muthaura and that the CEO would disregard court orders.
“KTDA female employees allege sexual harassment from the CEO Muthaura who brags having the Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi In his pockets as court orders him to rehire staff he illegally sacked a few months ago,” read the post dated December 24, 2022.
According to KTDA, the post which to them was made while knowing the details were false, is not only false but injurious to the reputation and character of the company and its CEO.
The company says, the post inferred that the CEO lacks in character, a predatory sexual harasser, a known committer of sexual offenses, and the KTDA aids and abets commitments of sexual harassment at the workplace.
Furthermore, KTDA believes the post infers KTDA aids and abets commitment of sexual offences against its employees and that the company has no working policy on sexual harassment.
Nyakundi is said to have posted another post in what the company calls a “continued onslaught”. The post has been seen over 17, 146 times.
He wrote, “KTDA CEO Muthaura Declares War On The Court and Former Officials Alleging Backing From Ruto, Linturi”. The post had the image of the CEO accompanying it, and the link to the full story.
According to KTDA, the blog post inferred that the CEO would defy court orders issued in the Employment suit, frustrate the reinstated employees into quitting, and that one way he plans to do this is by fixing them (the employees) into multiple scandals and later giving them up to authorities.
The company adds that, the article alleges the CEO bragged of enjoying the backing of powerful officials in the Kenya Kwanza administration, including President William Ruto and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi is always on the CEO’s speed dial whenever he needs favours from government.
KTDA is demanding a written apology, and retract the false statements, and the same be published on the same platforms where the untrue statements were made, and within 12 hours of receipt of this letter.
“Delete and or takedown the aforementioned false statements from your Facebook page, blog/website, and any other social media platform, within 12 hours of receipt of this letter,” read the letter in part.
The company also wants Nyakundi to cease and desist from making further malicious statements against our clients.
KTDA has threatened to sue if Nyakundi does not follow through on their demands.
