Dennis Itumbi Threatens to Sue New York Times!

[Simanova]

• Tweet

Dennis Itumbi has given the New York Times a seven-day ultimatum for an apology over remarks in an article about the President's ICC case.

Itumbi, the director of digital innovations and diaspora communications in President Uhuru Kenyatta's office, was suspended on Wednesday.

He asked the media house to apologise or face a defamation suit over making references to him in the article, saying he was not interviewed.

In a letter to the media house on Thursday, Itumbi's lawyers said the "offending words" were false since their client was not interrogated on any subject.

"You did not contact our client to comment on the issue contrary to your assertions. Your publication was therefore malicious and part of your sustained policy and your self-serving vendetta," said lawyer Moses Chelanga.

Chelanga said the publication was calculated to disparage and injure Itumbi's reputation and cause him scandal, odium and contempt in his personal capacity.

He said the Times portrayed Itumbi as one who interfered with the ICC witnesses protection programme.

He also said the media house made it seem the former director "exposed ICC witnesses; killed, abducted and enforced disappearance of ICC witnesses; bribed ICC witnesses; interfered with administration of justice; sabotaged the situation of the Republic of Kenya in the ICC [and] is corrupt."

The lawyer said his client's reputation and status as a long-standing public servant have been seriously damaged.

"He has suffered considerable distress and embarrassment to himself, his career, his calling, and his family," said Chelanga.

Itumbi asked New York Times to admit liability for the "false and malicious publication" and remove the words he found offending from the online post.

His lawyer said the apology should be published by the media house, after they approve the text.

Chelanga further said the Times will be held liable for the injury and loss Itumbi suffers. He said the amount will be communicated in due course.

The President attacked the media house over the article by James Verini printed under the headline 'Trial and Error' and published online with the headline ' The Prosecutor and the President '.

The article is about the ICC's the failure to prosecute Uhuru on crimes against humanity charges concerning the 2007/8 post-election violence.

The President, who was adversely mentioned, also demanded that the media house apologise over the remarks.

In a statement on Sunday, he termed the article "ridiculous, malicious, vindictive and unprofessional" and said the media house relied on "the fanciful accounts of unreliable individuals".

He said the Times did not contact anyone at State House or interview Itumbi yet referred to him.

But the media house said it will not apologise over the remarks as they made every effort to ensure the accuracy of what they publish.

New York Times noted: "

[Simanova]

How do we effectively do the rigging...

[bryan275]

Long standing public servant indeed.   Joker.

[Simanova]

The 101 of defamation: You stop lying. Once you are caught lying in anything, the principle of Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus (false in one thing, false in everything.). Here he is now lying about his employment. Well he is embellishing it. So it will be assumed he does that to everything.

I look forward to the suit - if Uhuru allows the linen to be washed in public. Uhuru has been accused directly but opted to avoid having the matter in an open court because he knows the dangers. If Itumbi loses he will forever be a murderer even if he has never murdered anybody

Long standing public servant indeed.   Joker.

[Kadudu]

That's the guy who goes for interviews with a laptop

[Simanova]

I have never taken Itumbi seriously. It could be that I heard about his forging academic certificates and henceforth treated him as an academic fraud not worthy of my attention. I have fleetingly noticed the hullabaloo about this man. I only paid attention once when the ICC had him under criminal investigation. The ICC must have realized it was making him more important by the investigation and dropped it. Then I found him like Matsanga very shallow and frivolous. I saw him too during the petition of 2013 but as I had stayed out that election, I paid little attention.

It is only now I have been searching the web about the man. I think he is struggling. He reminds me of that little bird on the back of a Rhino that believes it owns a Rhino and speaks of it as "my Rhino".

[patel]

Itumbi is a lightweight that would gather ideas from nipate, rcbowen and jukwaa and pass them to muthamaki as his own. He picked up Icc witness Yebei from TRV and RV Pundit and broadcasted to the whole world. Itumbi is responsible of several Icc witness death. I feel sorry for this kid most likely they will take him out.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

He sues them where?  Kenya or the US?  In the US he will probably be eviscerated by New York Times lawyers.  Not sure Kenya has jurisdiction.