KACC director seeks to bar Standard Group from case

By Evelyn Kwamboka

Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) Director Aaron Ringera wants the Standard Group locked out of a case in which he is seeking damages over alleged defamation.

Mr Ringera said the company should be barred until it admits it disobeyed a contempt court order and apologises.

"If a party engages in a conduct that amounts to disobeying a court order before a case is heard, for its own protection, the court requires that the party must purge the contempt before it is heard," he said through his advocate, Mr Desterio Oyatsi.

Justice David Onyancha changed his mind, moments after saying he would deliver his ruling without hearing the company’s submissions.

This was after the company’s advocate Mr Manjit Billing informed the court that his client has a right to be heard at this stage.

"We have just been served with the authorities today. My Lord, you will be condemning us without being heard," he said.

The company is expected to give its submissions on Wednesday when the case resumes. The KACC director obtained temporary orders stopping the company from publishing any stories against him on June 16.

The case resumes on Wednesday. He told Justice David Onyancha the company published another story about him on June 30, adding that this amounts to malice.

"Malice can be inferred from the conduct of the defendant. No facts have been shown to prove that what was published is true," he said.

The court heard that the purpose of the publication was to discredit and injure Ringera in his occupation and to destroy his livelihood.

"The motive can only be described as evil to the very extreme," he said.