Canada headquartered aviation firm DAC has sent a demand letter to blogger Cyprian Nyakundi for defamation.
“On or about 13th January, 2021, you wilfully and maliciously published or caused to be published three article on your website www.cnvakundi.com with the headline, “DAC Aviation Slave-Drivers Exposed, DAC Aviation Financial Woes Persist and Pain as DAC Aviation Fails to Pay Salaries for Months” concerning our Client whose particulars are well within your knowledge.”, the demand letter seen by kenyanbulletin.com stated in part.
In February 2020, the blogger had published the first article with information alleging that the firm was broke and engaging in illegalities such as not remitting statutory and other deductions.
“What we’ve come to learn is that almost 2 years now the organization has not remitted the amounts to the Sacco and when asked they threatened the Sacco officials. At least the government Sacco authority SASRA came through promising help, but still, they are not remitting the Sacco amount…white folks in the company like to treat Kenyans like trash.”, an email to the blogger stated in part.
The second article tackled the same issue but went deeper as to expose the firm as one which is deep in the red financially. There were also claims of tax evasion.
“Then the worst happened, he sent people on unpaid leave in November and the letters were backdated to October. Post holders resigned, now DAC does not have a CEO, MD and director of quality. Our taxes for this year have not been paid neither is our medicals. The current crew manager madam Natalie Jerry who is Emmanuel Anassis girlfriend works has been working for DAC Aviation (EA) without a work permit which we all know it’s illegal but the government has done nothing”, the article read in part.
The third and final article dealt with management staff who are alleged to be mistreating their Kenyan counterparts.
Natalie Jarry and Jane Patapova, both foreigners are accused of racism.
“The other responsible for DAC employee situation is Jane Potapova. I’ve read your article on DAC aviation EA with interest as I’m personally an ex-employee from DAC still with over USD100K (Sh10 million) in due arrears in salary payment”, a former staff told cnyakundi.com
The firm through Litoro and Omwebu advocates has given the blogger 24 hours from 27th January 2021, to pull down the said article, apologise or a suit be made against him.
“Our instructions are therefore to demand from you. as we hereby do, an immediate and unequivocal retraction of the articles in www.cnyakundi.com aforementioned, with an unequivocal correction and deletion of the aforementioned misleading Information. Kindly note that unless we hear from you on the above WITHIN 24 HOURS of the date hereof, we have instructions to lodge a suit against you without any further reference to you at your own risks and costs.”, the demand letter warned.
“We trust that the contemplated legal proceedings will not become necessary and look forward to your strict compliance with the terms hereof”, it concluded
The blogger could not be reached for comments at the time we went to the press.
