Editor's Review
Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango has demanded a public apology from two media houses over reports associating him with women’s underwear bearing his name and the NGAAF branding.
Kirinyaga Senator James Kamau Murango has demanded a public apology from two media houses over reports associating him with women’s underwear bearing his name and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) branding.
In a letter dated Friday, September 25, Murango, through his lawyers at Sakimpa & Partners Advocates, rejected claims that he was involved in the manufacture, purchase or distribution of the underwears.
The law firm accused the two media organisations of publishing reports that connected the senator to the items and portrayed them as part of efforts to advance his bid for the Kirinyaga governorship.
One of the reports was published under the caption: "Party panties: Anger in Kirinyaga after women receive free underwear promoting Senator Kamau Murango’s gubernatorial bid."
The report featured images of underwear printed with the words "NGAAF" and "Gov Kamau Murango 2027", alongside interviews with residents discussing the items.
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Murango has since distanced himself from the underwear, insisting that he neither authorised nor participated in their production or distribution.
"Our client did not print, procure, buy, supply or distribute the underwear shown in the video," his lawyers said.
The legal representatives further stated that the senator "did not authorise the use of his name on it" and maintained that he neither received nor exercised control over NGAAF funds for such a purpose.
According to the lawyers, the presence of Murango’s name and the NGAAF branding on the underwear could not, on its own, be taken as evidence that the senator was responsible for the items.
"The mere appearance of his name and the NGAAF label on an item is no proof that he caused it to be made or distributed," they added.
The lawyers also faulted the media houses for allegedly publishing the reports without first seeking Murango’s response to the claims.
"Had he been approached, he would have denied any involvement and clarified the position," the lawyers said, arguing that the failure to obtain his response meant that the reports did not present his side of the matter.
They further claimed that the publications had harmed the senator’s reputation, particularly because they created the impression that he had used a public fund’s identity to advance his political interests.
"The suggestion that he used a public fund’s identity to promote his political ambitions is particularly damaging," the letter states.
Murango’s legal team has demanded the immediate removal of the reports, video footage, social media posts and captions relating to the allegations from the media outlets’ digital platforms.
The lawyers are also seeking a full retraction and correction of the reports, alongside an "unequivocal public apology."
They have further demanded that Murango be given an opportunity to respond on air and through the digital platforms where the allegations were published.
In addition, the legal team has demanded an admission of liability and signalled its intention to seek compensation for what it describes as publications that were false and damaging to the senator’s reputation.
The media organisations have been given 24 hours to act on the demands.
Murango’s lawyers have warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would result in the matter being taken before the Media Complaints Commission, alongside possible civil proceedings seeking damages and other legal remedies.
This development comes a month after Kirinyaga Woman Rep Njeri Maina called for a thorough investigation into incidents of political violence reported in the county on August 23.
In a press conference on Friday, August 28, she said what began as ordinary political activity allegedly descended into violence and intimidation, leaving several people injured.
"What should have been an ordinary political activity descended into violence, intimidation, and fear, leaving several people injured and communities shaken. We must confront this before it becomes normalized," she said.
According to Maina, in Kiaragana, several people were reportedly injured during the violence, with one person said to have suffered critical, life-threatening knife wounds.
In Kiamumbi, women who had gathered in large numbers to receive former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were also reportedly physically assaulted and threatened with further violence.
Maina said the incidents went beyond ordinary political disagreements, arguing that assaults, intimidation and the use of weapons have no place in democratic competition.
"These are not minor political disagreements. Assault, intimidation, and the use of weapons have no place in democratic competition. There is also video material, which I previously circulated publicly, appearing to show buses transporting groups of people to the area before individuals disembarked and joined the surging campaign crowd," she added.
Maina said serious allegations had also been raised concerning the possible involvement of former Woman Rep Wangui Ngirici, insisting that the claims should be subjected to an independent investigation.
Maina questioned what action had been taken by the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following the reported violence and the alleged identification of persons of interest.
"What is unacceptable, however, is silence. If the National Police Service and the DCI have received witness accounts, reports, video material, and information identifying persons of interest, the people of Kirinyaga deserve to know what action has been taken since that day," she stated.
