The owner of Stabex International Limited and two other parties have filed a defamation suit at Kenya High Court against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of making statements linking them to alleged corruption in the petroleum sector.
The case, lodged at the Milimani Commercial Courts, involves Stabex International Limited, Ultra Eureka Limited and businessman Jackson Kiplimo Chebett. The plaintiffs argue that remarks made by Gachagua in early April 2026 were false, malicious and harmful to their reputations.
Court filings indicate that the contested statements were allegedly made on 4 April 2026 and 5 April 2026 during public rallies, media interviews and church events. The remarks were later disseminated widely across television, radio and social media platforms, reaching audiences both in Kenya and abroad.
According to the suit, the statements linked the companies and Chebett to the government to government petroleum supply framework. Gachagua is accused of suggesting that they acted as proxies for political interests and improperly benefited from fuel importation deals.
Disputed claims and legal battle
In one instance, the former deputy president allegedly claimed that the businesses had earned more than KSh1.5 trillion through the arrangement, a figure the plaintiffs describe as baseless and misleading.
The plaintiffs have firmly denied the claims, stating that Stabex International has no involvement in the government to government petroleum programme. They maintain that the company operates independently as a legitimate oil marketing firm with an established footprint across East Africa.
Chebett, identified in the suit as chairman and majority shareholder of Stabex, is also alleged to have been portrayed as a proxy for political figures and linked to questionable property acquisitions. However, the plaintiffs insist that all business dealings and asset purchases were conducted lawfully and transparently, including through public auctions.
They argue that the statements have portrayed them as corrupt and untrustworthy, causing significant reputational harm, loss of business opportunities and emotional distress.
Through their lawyers, the plaintiffs issued a demand letter on 9 April 2026 seeking a retraction and public apology from Gachagua. They state that he has not complied, prompting the legal action.
“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.
The plaintiffs are seeking a permanent injunction to bar further publication of the alleged defamatory statements. They also want a public apology to be published in national newspapers and across social media platforms.
In addition, they are asking the court to award general, aggravated and exemplary damages for libel, setting the stage for a high profile legal contest that could test the limits of political speech and reputational protection in Kenya.
