Here is the letter Lawyer Donald Kipkorir wrote to Robert Ali after his reports that Deputy President William Ruto had been hospitalised turned out to be a hoax.
Dearest Robert Ali Onyango,
You know we are virtual friends and also in terra firma. Our friendship is in spite of your animus towards my friend, H.E Deputy President William Ruto. You have never explained to me why you harbour such intense hatred against him. Hope you will one day tell me. You can’t make peace with one you don’t know why he hates you. DP doesn’t know why you hate him.
Be that as it may, our Constitution and laws protect your right to express your thoughts in whatever manner. But the same Constitution and The Penal Code qualifies our rights. The law says that we have rights to personal dignity and respect of families. The laws also criminalises alarmist publication, broadcasts that undermine public authority, false information and defamation.
I will always stand by your Bill of Rights but know that the Deputy President has the same rights and more by virtue of his office. You can publish all allegations against him, but not false and alarmist. And not one that wishes him hurt or misfortune. Or that will stress his family and especially his children.
In all my publications, which run over twenty years, you will not see one article I published that wished misfortune on anyone. There are people I dislike, but I will never publish my dislike against them.
I will still remain a godfather to your daughter.
Owadwa matin jolang’o kod joluo gin owete. Kik icha kata bedo gi sigu gi jolang’o ahinya! (loosely translates to ‘My young brother, Kalenjins and Luos are cousins. Do not despise neither hold any grudges against them!’)
Donald
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