NAIROBI, Kenya – Stabex International Chairman Jackson Chebett has moved to court seeking legal redress against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, filing a defamation suit over statements linking him to an alleged multi-billion shilling fuel scandal.
In the suit, Chebett accuses Gachagua of making false and injurious claims that associated him and his company with a controversial government-to-government (G-to-G) fuel import deal, as well as a purported cartel said to be protecting President William Ruto’s interests.
“The defendant acted with actual malice and reckless disregard for the truth,” the court filing states, adding that the remarks were politically motivated and intended to damage their standing.
Chebett maintains that Stabex International was neither involved in the G-to-G arrangement nor connected to the President, arguing that the allegations were baseless and malicious, and have caused significant harm to both his personal reputation and the company’s corporate standing.
The dispute stems from remarks by Gachagua alleging that Sh500 million linked to a fuel import scandal had been misappropriated and tied to individuals within the current administration.
However, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had earlier dismissed the claims as “misleading” and indicated that it was reviewing the statements for possible legal violations.
The case now adds a legal dimension to the ongoing political fallout following Gachagua’s impeachment, amid his continued assertions that he is the target of politically motivated attacks orchestrated by allies of President Ruto.
Chebett’s petition seeks to hold the former Deputy President accountable for what he terms defamatory utterances, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal and political confrontation.
The plaintiffs are also seeking a public apology to be published in national newspapers and across social media platforms and general, aggravated, and exemplary damages for libel.
