: City lawyer Danstan Omari has sued a local bank for defamation after it allegedly listed him on the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).

The bank is alleged to have listed the lawyer on CRB for reportedly defaulting on a non-performing KSh 63,509 loan.

In court papers seen by , Omari is seeking aggravated damages from the bank. He argues that as a result of the alleged negative and erroneous listing, his health has been affected.

He wants the bank to be held accountable for what he terms as acting recklessly.

Through his lawyer Shadrack Wambui, Omari, in documents filed in court, noted that in December 2024, he approached another bank for a loan only to allegedly get an email from Trans Union Credit Bureau (CRB) listing a non-performing loan account under his name allegedly at the behest of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

"The report erroneously stated that I had arrears amounting to KSh 63,509 and that I had defaulted on this loan from 1st December 2016, with a default listing date of 11th October 2016," the court papers state.

“This loan had been fully settled through a check-off system, a payment mechanism that automates deductions directly from a designated account to settle loan installments,” he added.

The CRB listing, lawyer Omari noted, had affected his health and caused him untold mental anguish.

He claimed that despite being afforded the opportunity to correct the error and the inaccuracy, the bank has allegedly failed to take any corrective measures.

"The emotional and mental toll this situation has taken on me cannot be understated. The distress caused by the false reports and the resulting consequences on my career and personal life have been substantial,” the prominent lawyer said in the court papers.

Omari who wants to take a stab into city politics further said that unless the court intervenes, his aspirations could be cut short.

He has already declared an interest in the Nairobi senatorial seat.

"The Plaintiff's future career prospects, including aspirations for public office, are jeopardized due to the false CRB listing,” Omari’s lawyer noted.

“The notion that I defaulted on this loan is not only erroneous but completely unfounded. In fact, prior to receiving the flawed CRB report, my credit history had consistently reflected a positive repayment track record,” he added.

Among the orders that Omari is seeking is for the bank to publish an unqualified retraction of statements to CRB and expunge his name from their record.

He is also seeking general and aggravated damages for reputational harm, emotional distress, and impairment of financial and professional standing. Omari further wants the court to issue a declaration stating that the bank's publications were false, misleading, defaming and unsubstantiated.

A pre-trial hearing for the case has been set for April 2, 2025, before Principal Magistrate Hosea Mwangi.

Previously, reported that the flamboyant lawyer had threatened to take legal action against former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi.

This is after Havi linked him to alleged corruption.

Omari demanded an apology from Havi over a post on Facebook, which claimed he was among advocates who had been abetting corruption in the Judiciary by conniving with High Court judges.

Source: TUKO.co.ke