Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) secretary general Stephen Mutoro has publicly rejected a legal ultimatum demanding he delete social media posts and pay MP Didmus Barasa KSh 100 million in alleged defamation damages. The demand letter, sent through lawyer Danstan Omari, gave Mutoro just two hours from receipt to pull down all social media publications relating to Barasa and settle the KSh 100 million claim. Mutoro, however, has refused to comply.
The confrontation stems from an ongoing dispute in which COFEK raised questions over Barasa's academic history, including allegations that the MP falsely claimed an electrical and electronic engineering degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Barasa had clarified the claims, stating that he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Mount Kenya University in 2021, followed by a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management (Public Policy) in 2022.
Mutoro maintained that if the credentials were legitimate, the appropriate forum for resolving the dispute was a court of law rather than a threatening letter with a countdown attached. He stated that he "will not be intimidated into silence, and I will not retract questions that are backed by the record." Mutoro also announced his intention to file a cross-petition should Barasa proceed with legal action, stating he would seek KSh 500 million in compensation.
The demand letter accused Mutoro of publishing defamatory statements about Barasa on social media during the week of September 14 to 21, 2026. Omari's firm stated that Mutoro had embarked on a "reckless publication of defamatory statements" directed at Barasa, a sitting Member of Parliament, in a manner designed to lower his standing in society. The firm stated that all legal elements of defamation had been satisfied and instructed Mutoro to retract the posts immediately.
JKUAT had also dismissed Barasa's degree, stating that his name is missing from the alumni list. Meanwhile, Omari also stated that Barasa is an "engineer in politics," citing his track record as a two-time MP and his pursuit for Bungoma governor. He compared his "engineering qualifications" to Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, who is widely referred to an engineer despite some leaders questioning his academic credentials.
Mutoro, writing on his X account on Monday, September 21, 2026, described the ultimatum as an attempt to silence public interest scrutiny and rejected the framing of his posts as defamatory. He asked questions about a doctoral progression riddled with documented contradictions—dates, boards, supervisors, and timelines that don't add up on the university's own paperwork. That is not defamation, he argued, but public interest scrutiny of a public official's public claims.
The dispute has sparked a heated debate, with Mutoro daring Barasa to proceed to court. Key points in the dispute include:
Key points
- COFEK secretary general Stephen Mutoro has rejected a demand to retract social media posts and pay MP Didmus Barasa KSh 100 million in alleged defamation damages.
- The dispute centers on allegations that Barasa falsely claimed an electrical and electronic engineering degree from JKUAT.
- Mutoro has announced his intention to file a cross-petition seeking KSh 500 million in compensation if Barasa proceeds with legal action.
