Lawyer Paul Mwangi has shed light on why the late Raila Odinga chose not to sue his former aide, Miguna Miguna, or any media outlet for defamation, despite intense pressure from allies to take legal action.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday night, Mwangi, who served as Raila’s long-time legal adviser, said the former Prime Minister viewed criticism as part of public life and was more concerned with national unity than personal vindication.
Mwangi recalled that after the 2017 elections, when Miguna made defamatory remarks against Odinga, some allies urged the opposition leader to file a major lawsuit. “Some people wanted a big defamation suit. Others wanted to use the Attorney General’s Office to have me charged with criminal libel,” Mwangi revealed. “But I advised him that we were not going to sue.”
Instead, Mwangi drafted a public op-ed articulating Raila’s stance. “I told him we need to explain the reasons, but I don’t want you involved so it doesn’t look personal,” he said. “He called me the next morning and said, ‘Okay, proceed.’ The article later ran in the Sunday Nation.”
The lawyer added that the only time Raila ever came close to suing was when then-Garissa Township MP Aden Duale made defamatory remarks. However, the case was never pursued to completion. “Technically, we never sued anyone,” Mwangi said.
He emphasized that Odinga saw public criticism as part of leadership. “Freedom of expression comes with the job. You will face defamation and criticism, but that’s the cost of public life,” he noted.
Mwangi also praised Miguna for his service in the Office of the Prime Minister, saying he played a vital role in defending Raila’s dignity at the time. “If there’s anyone who diligently fought to uphold Raila Odinga’s stature as Prime Minister, it was Miguna,” he said.
Raila’s restraint, Mwangi concluded, reflected his enduring belief in democracy and tolerance
