Bishop demands Sh50 million for alleged defamation by car dealer

A Kajiado-based cleric has sued a motor dealer seeking Sh50 million compensation for alleged defamation.

Bishop Tinga Ole Turere of Global Worship Center wants CarMax East Africa Ltd to admit liability for defamation and pay him the amount.

Through his lawyer Mathew Muoki, the bishop is further demanding that CarMax ceases defamatory actions, retract damaging social media posts and issue a public apology.

At the heart of the suit is a Toyota Landcruiser Prado that Turere bought on December 28, 2019 for Sh6,500,000 and entered into an agreement to pay half of the amount, Sh3,250,000, with the balance financed by Stanbic Bank.

However, the bishop’s legal team claims that in January 2020, CarMax lied to the bank that he had paid the amount due, facilitating the premature release of the loan.

Turere said he promptly settled the amount along with associated bank charges.

He claimed that by October 2021, he had paid CarMax Sh1,947,500, while Stanbic Bank had disbursed Sh3,250,000, leaving an outstanding balance of Sh1,302,500 being 20 per cent of the purchase price.

The man of the cloth later entered into another agreement with CarMax on October 27, 2020, offering the title deed of his land in Kajiado which at the time was worth Sh8 million, as collateral for the outstanding balance.

A further agreement entered by both parties on April 9, 2024 required the bishop to pay the outstanding Sh1,302,500 through monthly installments of Sh100,000.

However, on May 15, 2024, the bishop claimed that CarMax’s social media blogger issued a demand for the outstanding balance. He claims that the blogger (name withheld) posted derogatory messages demeaning his stature. 

His lawyer maintained that social media posts have portrayed a highly respected bishop as a deceitful, dishonest and unethical person who does not pay his debts and whose personal integrity and professional reputation are questionable.

In an interview, Mutuku said the social media posts have gone viral and were shared more than 700 times and viewed by people all over the world, with many congregants and friends raising concern.

"Bishop Turere says these posts have caused significant harm to his reputation, portraying him as deceitful, dishonest, and unfit to lead his congregation," said the lawyer.

However, in a reply to the demand letter, written by James and Co Advocates on behalf  of CarMax East Africa Limited, the firm argued that Turere was not defamed by asking him to pay the outstanding money for the vehicle he has been using.

They accused the bishop of allegedly issuing bouncing cheques.