Odinga threatens to sue Ruto for defamation

Deputy President William Ruto could be facing a lawsuit for linking Odinga family-owned company to Mumias Sugar Company woes.

Nominated MP Oburu Odinga, brother to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has threatened to sue the deputy president for defamation after he alleged that the company, Spectre International, owes Mumias Sugar Sh40 million in debt.

Speaking at a rally in Muhoroni Constituency on Saturday, Oburu challenged Ruto to table any document that will ascertain that they owed the sugar company any amount of money.

The MP wants Ruto held accountable over of his utterances saying the deputy president must stop peddling lies that he cannot substantiate.

In his address on Friday, Raila Odinga refuted claims that he owed Mumias Sh40 million saying anyone with evidence should avail it.

During his trip to Busia last weekend, Ruto and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale claimed that Odinga has a Sh40 million debt which he took from the sugar company during his time as prime minister.

Ruto urged Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale to tell Odinga to pay the debt before launching an attack on the government regarding the Uganda sugar deal.

“The other day I saw Khalwale with one of the people who owe Mumias Sugar Company some money. He should tell them to pay before they start politicking about the sugar issue,” Ruto had said.

On his part, Duale had advised leaders from Western region to storm Odinga’s office in Nairobi and demand for a cheque of the amount he owes the sugar company.

Report by Stephen Odindo