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

Tempers are flaring in a high-stakes clash between two outspoken public figures.

Blogger-turned-politician Robert Alai has fired back at prominent lawyer Danstan Omari, rejecting a KSh 100 million defamation demand over a controversial Facebook post.

The drama began earlier this week when Omari, through his lawyers, served Alai with a demand letter accusing him of publishing defamatory remarks on social media.

The post in question allegedly labelled the lawyer as a “joker,” “mijinga,” and made comparisons to a pig, painting him as a publicity-seeking opportunist rather than a serious legal practitioner.

Omari demanded an apology, a retraction, and compensation, threatening to sue if Alai failed to comply within 48 hours.

Alai has now answered back with defiance, rejecting the claims and dismissing the letter as “loud, dramatic, and dripping with exaggerated self-importance.”

In a statement seen by , he argued that his remarks fell within the bounds of fair comment on matters of public interest and were protected by the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

“It is quite ironic that a man who parades himself across media platforms daily, spewing insults and politically charged expletives against anyone with a dissenting opinion, suddenly develops thin skin when he’s on the receiving end of fair criticism,” Alai stated in his reply.

He went further to ridicule the damages sought by Omari, calling the KSh 100 million figure a mockery of legal redress.

“What the law does not protect is ego dressed up in inflated figures. Demanding KSh 100 million for a bruised reputation is not legal redress, it’s a clown show,” he wrote.

Alai also questioned the professionalism of Omari’s law firm, mocking the use of free email services for official communication.

“A man demanding KSh 100 million for ‘damage to reputation’ should at the very least have a brand worth defending. Law firms that command respect don’t use free accounts to issue threats. That’s a hustle, not a practice,” he claimed.

Alai further cast doubt on the lawyer’s self-worth valuation, wrapping up his response with a firm declaration that he would not give in to intimidation.

“I reject your demands in their entirety. Should you proceed, I am prepared to defend my rights vigorously,” he added.

Source: TUKO.co.ke