- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua demands a public apology from a Nairobi firm.
- His lawyers say allegations of grabbing a Sh25M apartment are false and malicious.
- The law firm Mabeya & Co. has given the company 24 hours to retract and apologise.
- Failure to comply will see a defamation case filed in court.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has moved to defend his name after a Nairobi-based company accused him of illegally acquiring an apartment in Kileleshwa. His lawyers have issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding a full retraction and apology, or else a defamation case will be taken to court.
The matter began when Royal Importers & Exporters Limited sent a letter on September 30, 2025, alleging that Gachagua had unlawfully taken possession of Unit 02, Block D, LR No. 330/317. The company further claimed he failed to pay the agreed price of Ksh 25 million for the property.
In a response dated October 2, 2025, Gachagua’s lawyer, Mabeya N. Moses of Mabeya & Company Advocates, dismissed the claims outright.
“Our client is a stranger to this kind of arrangement and has never engaged or transacted with your company,” the lawyer wrote, adding that Gachagua “has never set foot on the premises.”
The letter described the accusations as reckless, false, and malicious, accusing the company of deliberately spreading lies through bloggers and social media.
The legal team argued that the allegations had already damaged Gachagua’s image in multiple ways, from his family and social life to his political standing. The lawyers cited both the Defamation Act and Article 33(3) of the Constitution, insisting the accusations amounted to outright defamation under Kenyan law.
The lawyers outlined clear conditions for the company: Admit liability and begin talks on damages. Publish an immediate written retraction of the allegations. Offer an apology in two widely circulated national newspapers.
All this must be done within 24 hours.
Failure to meet the deadline, the law firm warned, would see them file a lawsuit seeking general, aggravated, and exemplary damages, alongside payment of all legal costs.
As of now, Royal Importers & Exporters Limited has remained silent on the ultimatum, leaving the possibility of a high-profile court showdown wide open.
