He noted that constitutionalism has decreed scrutiny of public officials is so fundamental to democracy that the law will compromise the interests of public officials, even when they are subjected to abuse rather than risk the danger of stifling debate.
Quoting former US President James Madison, Mwangi said, “Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of everything, and in no instance is this more true than in that of the Press.”
Mwangi said a few people know the tribulations of being a public figure.
“We read about public figures every day, their words and deeds; their wives and children, friends and accomplices, but rarely do we stop to understand the psychological toll that comes with living one’s life under such public exposure,” he argued.
Last week Caroli instructed Nairobi lawyer George Oraro to sue Miguna for defamation.
In his instructions to Oraro, Omondi also wants action taken against the Nation Media Group for publishing Miguna’s allegations against him.
Omondi argued the allegations had injured his character, and wanted criminal and civil proceedings instituted against Miguna, NMG, and Gilgamesh Africa, the publishers of the book.
He instructed Oraro to brief the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Media Council of Kenya, and the police over the allegations to open criminal proceedings.
Miguna, in his book, alleges that Omondi is corrupt, links him to the maize scandal and questions how he acquired his wealth while at the PM’s office.
“His take home pay was less than Sh300,000. By April 2009, Caroli had worked for the OPM for exactly two years.
Even if he was saving 90 per cent of his net income — an impossible feat in any society — he would still not have made Sh800 million within two years,” Miguna claims in his book.
Miguna also claims that Omondi had acquired the Heron Court Hotel, which is situated in Nairobi, a fact the PM’s aide denies.
