CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo is reportedly moving to take legal action against George Oduor, the driver of Kibra MP Peter Orero, following a heated road rage incident that went viral last week. The confrontation, which occurred after Madowo blocked the MP’s vehicle from driving on the wrong side of the road, escalated into a public shouting match involving the use of insults.
The threat of a lawsuit comes despite MP Orero’s public apology for the incident and Oduor’s appearance in court, where he was fined a hefty amount after pleading guilty to a traffic offense.
The Viral Confrontation
The incident, which was widely shared across social media, showed MP Peter Orero’s official car attempting to “overlap” (drive in the wrong lane) to beat traffic. Madowo’s vehicle deliberately prevented the move.
The situation quickly devolved into a verbal altercation, with both the MP and his driver, George Oduor, exchanging expletives with the journalist. Although the driver has since faced legal repercussions for the traffic offense itself, Madowo appears intent on pursuing a case related to the personal insults and threats hurled at him during the roadside argument.
Focusing on Defamation, Not Traffic
While the initial public focus was on the misuse of VIP privileges and the violation of traffic laws, Madowo’s potential legal action centers on the abusive language used by Oduor.
Sources close to the journalist indicate that the case will not be about the overlapping but rather about defamation and public verbal assault, which Madowo’s legal team believes crosses a professional boundary. By focusing on the personal nature of the attack, Madowo aims to send a strong message against public aggression and harassment, regardless of the perpetrator’s professional standing or subsequent fine.
MP Orero’s Apology and ODPP’s Stance
Kibra MP Peter Orero publicly apologized for the entire incident, admitting that both he and his driver were in the wrong for breaking traffic rules. The driver, George Oduor, pleaded guilty to the traffic offense and was fined by Magistrate Rose Ndombi, stating that he had “learnt his lesson.”
Furthermore, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) clarified that they would not be charging the MP himself for complicity, as there was no concrete evidence that he ordered his driver to overlap.
Despite these developments, Madowo’s decision to pursue a civil case suggests the matter is far from over. His move highlights a growing intolerance among the public for impunity and abusive behavior often exhibited by those operating vehicles associated with influential figures.
Larry Madowo has not yet publicly commented on the details of the impending lawsuit, but the formal legal threat indicates a significant escalation of the road rage incident into a matter of high-profile legal principle.