Wetang'ula demands apology from BBC over bribery claims

Moses Wetang'ula

Senior Counsel James Orengo has written to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) seeking a retraction of a story that linked Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula to BAT bribery allegations.

Orengo accuses the BBC for peddling false information and using defamatory words. Wetang'ula is demanding “a written, unconditional and unreserved apology”, and “an immediate admission of liability further to which, we shall, address the question of damages and your expenses undertaking not to publish, print or broadcast any words, statements or report defamatory of our client.” He is threatening legal action if the demands are not met within 24 hours.

The BBC, through its investigative programme, Panorama, accused BAT of bribing senior politicians, public officials and even people working for a rival company in East Africa.

Wetang'ula has refuted claims that he received an air ticket and money from BAT  to facilitate his travel to London. “What is the ticket serial number? Date of travel and return? Airline? Cost of the ticket? travel agent if any?” questioned Wetang'ula. The programme, ‘The Secret Bribes of Big Tobacco’, also names a former BAT official for allegedly arranging bribes totalling Sh2.6 million for three public officials in Rwanda, Burundi and the Comoros Islands.