A petition has been filed against Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi for allegedly failing to repay "soft loans" totaling USD 60,300 (approx. Ksh.7.9 million) borrowed from a diplomat.
According to diplomat Josphat Machogu, they first met in June 2021, when Amisi and other Members of Parliament paid an official visit to IGAD offices in Djibouti, after which they became friends, exchanged contact information, and continued to communicate.
Machogu, through his lawyer Daniel Achach, claims that Amisi approached him on various dates between January 2022 and September 2022 and requested soft loans of varying amounts.
According to court documents, the first amount advanced to Amisi was Ksh.500,000, which was reportedly deposited directly into his account on or around January 6, 2022.
On or about April 12, 2022, the diplomat claims to have sent an additional USD 50,000 (approx. Ksh.6 million) to the defendant.
Later in September, the petitioner claims Amisi requested another soft loan "to enable him offset some unforeseen bills resulted from the campaigns." The defendant claims he advanced Amisi an additional USD 10,300 (approximately Ksh.1.3 million).
According to the diplomat, the MP paid back Ksh.500,000 after threatening legal action.
On or about April 12, 2022, the diplomat claims to have sent an additional USD 50,000 (approx. Ksh.6 million) to the defendant.
Later in September, the petitioner claims Amisi requested another soft loan "to enable him offset some unforeseen bills resulted from the campaigns." The defendant claims he advanced Amisi an additional USD 10,300 (approximately Ksh.1.3 million).
According to the diplomat, the MP paid back Ksh.500,000 after threatening legal action.
“The plaintiff prays for judgment against the Defendant for USD 60,300.00 and interest at court rates from the date of filing this suit until payment in full.” reads court papers.
He claims that the MP informed him that he was campaigning to reclaim his National Assembly seat in the upcoming General Election, that he was unable to raise enough funds through donations and fundraisers, and thus required a refundable soft loan.
He also claims that it was their understanding that after winning the elections and being sworn in, the lawmaker would repay all of the soft loans in one installment.
“In the alternative, the Defendant expressed to the Plaintiff that should he not win in the elections, he would give the Plaintiff a payment proposal that would be acceptable, but the Defendant was almost very sure of a win with the Plaintiffs soft loan,” reads the court papers.
Despite the Plaintiff meeting his part of the agreement, the MP has allegedly failed to repay the soft loans advanced to him by the Plaintiff, according to the diplomat.
“I continue to suffer loss and damages… The Plaintiff made several attempts to reach out to the Defendant for the payment but the Defendant became evasive, slippery and also for a long period of time and when he finally did, the Defendant became abusive and threatening to the Plaintiff,” claims the diplomat.
The diplomat says the MP threatened him with dire consequences should he continue demanding the payment of the loan, including telling the Plaintiff ‘Kitakuramba'.