Woman Rep Muhanda Seeks Sh115m in Defamation Suit Against Governor Barasa and 9 Others

A Kakamega Women Representative has sued the governor, his wife, and eight bloggers over defamation allegations.

In a suit filed at the Milimani High Court, Elsie Muhanda Busihile  has sued  Governor Fernades Barasa and his wife, Prof Janet Kassily Barasa, urging the court to order the defendants to pay her Sh115 million in compensation.

From Barasa, she is urging the court to compel him to pay Sh 20 million, his wife Sh 15 million, and from the eight other defendants Sh10 million each.

Busihile says that unless the court intervenes, the alleged falsehoods being circulated about her have “gained traction and are likely to be widely published and disseminated.”

The MP claims that the false allegations being spread by the defendants have disparaged her character and have painted her in a bad light, thereby demeaning her public standing as a public figure.

Busihile is therefore urging the Milimani High Court to restrain Governor Barasa , his wife Prof  Janet Kassily, and eight others, Fabian Musamia, Peter Angatha, Joel Eshkhumo, Dennis Weche, Dan Makori Kibwage, Janet Wasike, Melisa Owuor, and Tariq Shitiabai, from republishing or repeating alleged defamatory statements about them in their public interactions.

She claims the alleged untruthful statements made about her character have disparaged her and “unless the court intervenes, she says her standing in the society will be brought into public odium.”

The Woman Rep claims that the three separate cases she claims falsehoods have been published linking her to the death of a person in Kisumu, which she denied knowledge about.

In the cases filed under a certificate of urgency by lawyer Danstan Omari the Woman Rep is seeking temporary orders barring the defendants from re-publishing falsities about her.

“Pending the hearing and determination of the cases, a temporary injunction shall issue restraining the governor, his wife (Prof Kassily), and the other six respondents from uttering, publishing, republishing, broadcasting, posting, or disseminating by any means whatsoever any defamatory or false statements of and concerning the plaintiff Busihile,” Omari urges in the court filings.

Busihile accuses the governor of engaging in the alleged smear campaign because he knows “she has publicly declared interest in the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.”

The MP states in her affidavit in support of the case that “She is a peace-loving, law-abiding leader and has at all material times maintained a cordial and professional relationship with the first-term governor in serving the people of Kakamega County.”

She also states that she has demonstrated willingness to cooperate in the interest of public service and development.

She maintains that her rights under Article 28 of the Constitution have been violated and that she is supposed to be treated with dignity.

The high court is yet to give directions on the three suits.