Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been taken to the High Court over alleged defamatory remarks linking a private firm and its chairman to irregular petroleum dealings.
In the suit, Jackson Kiplimo, chairman of Stabex International Limited, together with two associated companies, is seeking damages, arguing that statements attributed to Mr Gachagua were false, malicious and harmful to their reputation.
According to court filings, the plaintiffs accuse Mr Gachagua of publicly claiming that Stabex International Limited and Gulf Energy were being used as proxies in a government-to-government (G2G) petroleum procurement arrangement allegedly tied to President William Ruto.
The case references remarks reportedly made on April 5, 2026, at AIPCA Gakoe Church in Kiambu, where Mr Gachagua is said to have alleged that the President was conducting petroleum business through the two firms and had generated profits exceeding Sh1.5 trillion since assuming office.
Rejecting the claims, the plaintiffs state:
“The statements are completely false. The first plaintiff (Stabex) has no involvement whatsoever in the G2G framework, no proxy relationship with the President, and no illicit dealings.’
They further accuse Mr Gachagua of acting with malice, adding:
“The defendant (Gachagua) acted in actual malice, political jealousy and reckless disregard for the truth. He failed to verify any facts, ignored public records and deliberately chose inflammatory language to incite public outrage for political gain.”
The suit also challenges claims that senior officials within the Kenya Pipeline Company and the Energy and Petroleum Pipeline Company (EPRA) were involved in parallel fuel importation deals without presidential knowledge.
The plaintiffs argue that such statements wrongly portrayed them as participants in unlawful activities, thereby damaging their credibility and business standing. They insist that Stabex operates as a legitimate oil marketing company with an established presence across East Africa and no involvement in the G2G fuel procurement framework.
Court documents indicate that the plaintiffs issued a demand letter on April 9, 2026, seeking a public retraction and unconditional apology, but claim Mr Gachagua failed to respond.
They are now asking the court to award general and exemplary damages and to issue a permanent injunction barring him from repeating the alleged defamatory statements.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
