TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

It all started with a Facebook post that struck a nerve and triggered a legal storm.

Renowned criminal lawyer Danstan Omari has formally demanded a public apology, retraction, and KSh 100 million in damages from controversial blogger and politician Robert Alai, accusing him of publishing defamatory statements online.

According to the demand letter dated June 12 and seen by , Omari’s legal team, led by advocate Martina Swiga, said Alai posted grossly offensive remarks on his Facebook page, which boasts over 729,000 followers.

In the post, Alai allegedly called Omari a “joker”, used the Swahili word “mijinga” (foolish), and compared him to a “pig”, claiming that the lawyer was using a lawsuit for political publicity rather than legitimate legal redress.

The viral post reportedly drew over 2,200 reactions and nearly a thousand comments, many of which were insulting and directly referenced Omari.

His legal team stated that the remarks were not only false and malicious, but also severely damaging to his professional image and personal dignity.

“Our client is not an animal but a human being and adult of sound mind, entitled to respect and dignity as enshrined in Article 28 of the Constitution of Kenya,” the demand letter read in part.

It added that characterising Omari as a “pig”, “joker”, or as unintelligent was completely inconsistent with the reputation he has built as one of Kenya’s top criminal defence lawyers.

The letter issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Alai to accept liability, pay KSh 100 million in damages, and issue a clear, unconditional apology and retraction, posted with the same visibility as the original statement.

"That you admit liability for defaming our client through your Facebook post and pay damages amounting to Ksh. 100,000,000. That you immediately publish an unequivocal and unconditional apology and retraction of the ill-fated statements you posted, through Facebook and with the same prominence as you did the defamatory post," the letter continued.

Swiga noted that the post had caused widespread public ridicule, undermining Omari’s reputation in front of current and potential clients.

The legal team also warned that the continued presence of the post online was worsening the damage.

Should Alai fail to comply with the demands, Omari’s lawyers vowed to take immediate legal action to protect their client’s name and professional standing.

Source: TUKO.co.ke